Surgical Resection of Isolated Intramedullary Neurocysticercosis
Introduction: Neurocysticercosis is a parasitic disease caused by the cysticerci of Taenia solium. Central nervous system involvement is endemic in underdeveloped countries and intracranial involvement is the most common presentation. Isolated spinal cord involvement is quite rare and definitive diagnosis in most cases is obtained by anatomopathological evaluation. Case Report: 58 year-old female, from Nicaragua, with a 3-year history of dysesthesia and allodynia on right T5 dermatome, with thoracic spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealing an intramedullary cystic lesion at the level of T4 and T5 vertebrae with perilesional edema. MRI of the rest of the central nervous system was unremarkable. After initial empirical treatment with intravenous methylprednisolone without clinical or radiological improvement, surgical exploration was proposed, confirming the diagnosis of neurocysticercosis. Conclusion: Diagnosing spinal cysticercosis represents a challenge and should to be considered in patients with intramedullary cystic lesions in endemic areas.