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Case Reports
. 2019 Jan-Mar;18(1):51-53.
doi: 10.4103/aam.aam_76_17.

Disseminated cysticercosis in an immunocompetent individual

Kothai Gnanamoorthy  1 , Prasanna Karthik Suthakaran  2
Affiliations
Case Reports

Disseminated cysticercosis in an immunocompetent individual

Kothai Gnanamoorthy et al. Ann Afr Med. 2019 Jan-Mar.

Abstract
in English, French

Cysticercosis is a major public health problem, particularly in developing countries. It is caused by the larvae of the cestode Taenia solium (pork tapeworm). It usually presents as a solitary lesion in the muscle or brain (neurocysticercosis). Disseminated cysticercosis is an uncommon manifestation, especially in an immunocompetent individual. We hereby report the case of a 31-year-old male who presented with new-onset generalized tonic-clonic seizures and who also had multiple soft-tissue swellings all over his body. Imaging studies revealed multiple cysticerci in the brain parenchyma, extraocular muscles, and muscles of all the four limbs, which was subsequently established by histopathology also. The patient was started on anticonvulsants, steroids, and albendazole following which he made a complete recovery.

Résumé La cysticercose bovine est un problème majeur de santé publique, en particulier dans les pays en développement. Elle est causée par les larves du cestode Taenia solium (pork tapeworm). Il se présente généralement comme une lésion solitaire dans le muscle ou du cerveau (neurocysticercose). La cysticercose disséminée est une manifestation rare, en particulier dans un individu immunocompétent. Nous rapportons le cas d'un 31 ans qui présentaient une apparition nouvelle tonico-cloniques et qui avaient également plusieurs gonflements des tissus mous sur tout son corps. Les études d'imagerie ont révélé plusieurs cysticerques dans le parenchyme du cerveau, des muscles extraoculaires, et les muscles de l'ensemble des quatre membres, qui a été établi par l'histopathologie également. Le patient a commencé à prendre des anticonvulsivants, stéroïdes, et de l'albendazole à la suite de laquelle il s'est complètement rétabli.

Keywords: Cysticercosis; myocysticercosis; neurocysticercosis; seizures.

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Conflict of interest statement

None

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Computed tomography brain showing multiple hyperdense lesions in brain and muscle
Figure 2
Figure 2
Magnetic resonance image of brain showing multiple cysticerci lesions
Figure 3
Figure 3
Magnetic resonance image showing disseminated cysticerci in chest wall
Figure 4
Figure 4
Magnetic resonance image showing disseminated cysticerci in lower limbs
Figure 5
Figure 5
Intraoperative photograph of excised cysticercus from the left forearm
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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