Abstract
Objective
Review of case reports and case series of patients with single cysticercus granulomas
in non-endemic countries to determine the characteristics of this form of neurocysticercosis
in these regions.
Methods
MEDLINE and manual search of patients with single cysticercus granulomas diagnosed
in non-endemic countries from 1991 to 2011. Abstracted data included: demographic
profile, clinical manifestations, form of neurocysticercosis, and whether the disease
occurred in immigrants, international travelers, or citizens from non-endemic countries
who had never been abroad.
Results
A total of 77 patients were found. Of these, 61 (79%) were diagnosed since the year
2000. Thirty-four patients (44%) patients were immigrants from endemic countries,
18 (23%) were international travelers returning from disease-endemic areas, and the
remaining 25 (33%) were citizens from non-endemic countries who had never been abroad.
Most immigrants and international travelers became symptomatic two or more years after
returning home. Countries with the most reported patients were Kuwait (n=18), UK (n=11), Australia (n=8), USA (n=7), Japan (n=6), and Israel (n=5).
Conclusions
A single cerebral cysticercus granuloma in a non-endemic country is not a rare event.
As seen in endemic regions, these cases have a good prognosis although more surgical
procedures are performed in non-endemic countries, likely reflecting a decrease of
diagnostic suspicion for cysticercosis and an increased availability of surgical options.
The mean age of the reported cases was 25 years, and immigrants most often developed the disease greater than two years after
arrival into a non-endemic area, suggesting a significant delay between infection
and symptoms. However, some may have been infected and developed the disease while
residing in non-endemic countries.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: June 04, 2012
Accepted:
May 10,
2012
Received in revised form:
May 10,
2012
Received:
February 23,
2012
Identification
Copyright
© 2012 Elsevier B.V. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
