Neuro-schistosomiasis with palm tree contrast enhancement pattern, a report of three cases, and review of literature

Abstract

We describe three cases of neuroschistosomiasis, two cases with cerebral schistosomiasis due to Schistosoma japonicum, with multiple pseudotumoral lesions presented with seizures and hemiparesis respectively, and a spinal cord conus medullaris schistosomiasis due to Schistosoma mansoni presented with conus medullaris syndrome. In the two cases with cerebral schistosomiasis imaging with CT revealed multiple areas of brain edema, and gyriform calcifications in both cerebral hemispheres, which suggested cerebral parasitemia, chronic venous hypertension, multifocal cerebral vascular malformation, or a forme fruste Sturge Weber syndrome. Further MRI revealed corresponding blooming, T2W (weighted) -FLAIR (fluid attenuated inversion recovery) ibright signal intensity and enhancing lesions. In the third case with spinal cord involvement MRI revealed signal abnormality on T1W and T2W images with patchy and punctate post i.v. contrast enhancement of the conus medullaris. Excision biopsy and histopathological examination were undertaken for the first brain case and spinal cord case and showed multiple schistosomal granulomas in different evolution phases. In the second brain case, the diagnosis was suggested based on our experience with prior cases, positive laboratory tests, and urinary bladder wall biopsy. Neuroschistosomiasis must be considered in the differential diagnosis of multiple cerebral calcifications, and multiple nodular and linear like lesions with characteristic arborized enhancement pattern, especially for patients coming from endemic areas for Schistosomiasis.