Surgical case of subacute headache in a young Latin American woman

Abstract

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is the most common helmintic disease affecting the central nervous system and a major cause of adult-onset epilepsy in the developing world. 1 We describe a case of intraventricular NCC associated with hydrocephalus in a 28-year-old woman, Peruvian native, admitted to the emergency department for subacute headache and nausea. The cranial CT scan done showed asymmetric enlargement of the lateral ventricles which on cranial MRI was revealed to be due to an intraventricular cyst. An intraventricular endoscope was used to remove the cyst at the foramina of Monro, and therefore treat the obstructive hydrocephalus. NCC—a known cause of hydrocephalus in many Latin American countries—should be among the differential diagnosis in a patient with history of travel or residency in these countries. Treatment of choice for obstructive hydrocephalus caused by NCC is cyst removal with neuroendoscopy.