Hippocampal characteristics among children with calcified neurocysticercosis

Abstract

Abstract Aim: The aim of this article is to describe the hippocampal characteristics among children with calcified neurocysticercosis (cNCC). Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among children with epilepsy aged 3–14 years diagnosed with cNCC. Patients showing evidence of cNCC, with prior serial imaging evidence of active NCC, were enrolled. Eligible participants were subjected to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based protocol and sleep-deprived electroencephalography. Hippocampal characteristics on the MRI were described. Results: A total of 31 children with mean (SD) age of 10.3 (3.2) years with cNCC were enrolled in the study. We observed that 42% (13/31) of children with cNCC had borderline (10–20% difference in the volumes of right and left hippocampi) (n = 8) or clear (>20% difference) (n = 5) hippocampal atrophy. Among 31 children with cNCC, 27 (87.1%) had nidus within the lesion and 21 (67.7%) had perilesional gliosis. Conclusion: Children with cNCC are at risk of seizure recurrence on tapering anti-seizure medications. Our study with limited sample size revealed that hippocampal atrophy and perilesional gliosis are prevalent among children with cNCC, predisposing them to the risk of epilepsy.