Cerebral sparganosis: CT characteristics

Abstract

Cerebral sparganosis is an extremely rare parasitic zoonosis caused by a migrating plerocercoid tapeworm larva, genus Spirometra. Nineteen computed tomography (CT) scans of 12 patients with cerebral sparganosis were retrospectively analyzed and correlated with clinical and pathologic data. On CT scans, the following characteristics were noted: (a) unilateral involvement; (b) extensive or multifocal areas of low density along white matter bundles, with ipsilateral ventricular dilatation and localized cortical atrophy; (c) nodular or irregular enhancement with spotty calcification; and (d) change in location of enhancing nodules on sequential scans. These pathognomonic features reflect a chronic inflammatory process with both active granulomatous lesions and widespread degeneration of brain tissue, especially in the white matter. Degeneration is probably caused by migration of the long-surviving larva along the fiber tracts of white matter.