Racemose cysticercus in human brain. A case report

Abstract

A case of invasion of the brain of a 48-year-old man, a native of Louisiana, by a larval tapeworm is described. Inasmuch as there were no scolices or rostellar hooks present the parasite was identified as a racemose cysticercus which could be either a sterile coenurus of Taenia multiceps (= Multiceps multiceps), Taenia serialis (= Multiceps serialis), or an aberrant cysticercus of Taenia solium or of a different species of Taenia. Most of the parasite was removed surgically with a preoperative diagnosis of brain tumor. After operation the patient improved, and 32 months after onset of his illness he was working and showed no evidence of a recurrence.