Cysticercosis of lumbar spine, mimicking spinal subarachnoid tumor

Abstract

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Spinal neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a very rare clinical entity. Signs and symptoms may include myelopathy, radiculopathy, or cauda equina syndrome, depending on location of the cyst, and it may mimic more common neuropathology. When the patient does not come from an endemic region and serologic tests fail to yield evidence of the presence of parasites, the diagnosis may only become apparent at surgery.

PURPOSE: To report a case of NCC of lumbar spine with spinal root symptoms, which had only become apparent at surgery.

STUDY DESIGN: Case report. METHODS: A 72-year-old man presented with progressive lower-extremity weakness and diminished sensation in his left lower extremity. Laboratory evaluation, including serologic tests, was nonspecific. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a large eccentric mass lesion at lumbar subarachnoid space.

RESULT: Diagnosis was confirmed after surgical excision, and cysticercosis was found to be the etiologic factor.

CONCLUSION: Even when the patient does not come from endemic region and serologic tests fail to yield evidence of the presence of parasites, spinal NCC should be considered in the differential diagnosis with symptoms suggestive of spinal mass lesion.