Title
Cysticerci-related single parenchymal brain enhancing lesions in non-endemic countries
Date Issued
15 August 2012
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Abstract
Objective: Review of case reports and case series of patients with single cysticercus granulomas in non-endemic countries to determine the characteristics of this form of neurocysticercosis in these regions. Methods: MEDLINE and manual search of patients with single cysticercus granulomas diagnosed in non-endemic countries from 1991 to 2011. Abstracted data included: demographic profile, clinical manifestations, form of neurocysticercosis, and whether the disease occurred in immigrants, international travelers, or citizens from non-endemic countries who had never been abroad. Results: A total of 77 patients were found. Of these, 61 (79%) were diagnosed since the year 2000. Thirty-four patients (44%) patients were immigrants from endemic countries, 18 (23%) were international travelers returning from disease-endemic areas, and the remaining 25 (33%) were citizens from non-endemic countries who had never been abroad. Most immigrants and international travelers became symptomatic two or more years after returning home. Countries with the most reported patients were Kuwait (n = 18), UK (n = 11), Australia (n = 8), USA (n = 7), Japan (n = 6), and Israel (n = 5). Conclusions: A single cerebral cysticercus granuloma in a non-endemic country is not a rare event. As seen in endemic regions, these cases have a good prognosis although more surgical procedures are performed in non-endemic countries, likely reflecting a decrease of diagnostic suspicion for cysticercosis and an increased availability of surgical options. The mean age of the reported cases was 25 years, and immigrants most often developed the disease greater than two years after arrival into a non-endemic area, suggesting a significant delay between infection and symptoms. However, some may have been infected and developed the disease while residing in non-endemic countries. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Start page
32
End page
36
Volume
319
Issue
February 1
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Parasitología
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-84862768398
PubMed ID
Source
Journal of the Neurological Sciences
ISSN of the container
0022510X
Sponsor(s)
Funding for this work was provided in part by the Division of Intramural Research, National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases ZIAAI000846 (Dr. Nash). Dr. Garcia is supported by a Wellcome Trust International Senior Fellowship in Public Health and Tropical Medicine .
Sources of information: Directorio de Producción Científica Scopus