May 14, 2012
A 7-year-old boy with fever, worsening irritability, seizures, proptosis, and hepatosplenomegaly.
Disseminated Cysticercosis
- Human cysticercosis is caused by the dissemination of embryos of T. solium from the intestine via the hepatoportal system to the tissues and organs of the body.
- Clinical features include intractable epilepsy, dementia, enlargement of muscles, subcutaneous and lingual nodules, and a relative absence of focal neurological signs or raised intracranial pressure, at least until late in the disease. Pseudohypertrophy of the muscles is the most common presentation of DCC, followed by palpable nodules and seizures.
- Key Diagnostic Features: Multiple sub-cm cystic appearing lesions are seen scattered through out the intracranial compartment, within both the orbits, the neck musculature and subcutaneous tissues. Typically, there is absence of calcification in soft tissues and in the head on radiological examination.
- Rx: Cysticidal agents, corticosteroids, antiepileptics, and occasionally surgery
