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August 16, 2010

Neurocysticercosis
Unraveling the nature of the single cysticercal granuloma

August 17, 2010 issue
75 (7) 654-658

Abstract

A single enhancing lesion in the brain parenchyma, also called an inflammatory granuloma, is a frequent neurologic diagnosis. One of the commonest causes of this lesion is human neurocysticercosis, the infection by the larvae of the pork tapeworm, Taenia solium. Following the demonstration that viable cysticercosis cysts survive in good conditions for several years in the human brain, single cysticercal granulomas have been consistently interpreted as representing late degeneration of a long-established parasite. On the basis of epidemiologic, clinical, and laboratory evidence detailed in this article, we hypothesize that in most cases these inflammatory lesions correspond to parasites that die in the early steps of infection, likely as the natural result of the host immunity overcoming mild infections.

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Information & Authors

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Published In

Neurology®
Volume 75Number 7August 17, 2010
Pages: 654-658
PubMed: 20713953

Publication History

Published online: August 16, 2010
Published in print: August 17, 2010

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Keyword

  1. NCC = neurocysticercosis; SCG = single cysticercal granuloma.

Notes

Authors

Affiliations & Disclosures

H.H. García, MD, PhD
From the Cysticercosis Unit (H.H.G., S.R., I.G., R.H.G.), Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Neurológicas, Lima; Department of Microbiology (H.H.G., I.G., R.H.G.), School of Sciences, and Center for Global Health, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru; Department of International Health (H.H.G., A.E.G., I.G., R.H.G.), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD; School of Veterinary Medicine (A.E.G.), Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru; Georgia State University (V.C.W.T.), Atlanta, GA; and Hospital Nacional Alberto Sabogal (E.J.P.), ESSALUD, Callao, Peru.
A.E. Gonzalez, DVM, PhD
From the Cysticercosis Unit (H.H.G., S.R., I.G., R.H.G.), Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Neurológicas, Lima; Department of Microbiology (H.H.G., I.G., R.H.G.), School of Sciences, and Center for Global Health, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru; Department of International Health (H.H.G., A.E.G., I.G., R.H.G.), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD; School of Veterinary Medicine (A.E.G.), Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru; Georgia State University (V.C.W.T.), Atlanta, GA; and Hospital Nacional Alberto Sabogal (E.J.P.), ESSALUD, Callao, Peru.
S. Rodriguez, MMic
From the Cysticercosis Unit (H.H.G., S.R., I.G., R.H.G.), Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Neurológicas, Lima; Department of Microbiology (H.H.G., I.G., R.H.G.), School of Sciences, and Center for Global Health, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru; Department of International Health (H.H.G., A.E.G., I.G., R.H.G.), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD; School of Veterinary Medicine (A.E.G.), Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru; Georgia State University (V.C.W.T.), Atlanta, GA; and Hospital Nacional Alberto Sabogal (E.J.P.), ESSALUD, Callao, Peru.
V.C.W. Tsang, PhD
From the Cysticercosis Unit (H.H.G., S.R., I.G., R.H.G.), Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Neurológicas, Lima; Department of Microbiology (H.H.G., I.G., R.H.G.), School of Sciences, and Center for Global Health, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru; Department of International Health (H.H.G., A.E.G., I.G., R.H.G.), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD; School of Veterinary Medicine (A.E.G.), Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru; Georgia State University (V.C.W.T.), Atlanta, GA; and Hospital Nacional Alberto Sabogal (E.J.P.), ESSALUD, Callao, Peru.
E.J. Pretell, MD
From the Cysticercosis Unit (H.H.G., S.R., I.G., R.H.G.), Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Neurológicas, Lima; Department of Microbiology (H.H.G., I.G., R.H.G.), School of Sciences, and Center for Global Health, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru; Department of International Health (H.H.G., A.E.G., I.G., R.H.G.), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD; School of Veterinary Medicine (A.E.G.), Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru; Georgia State University (V.C.W.T.), Atlanta, GA; and Hospital Nacional Alberto Sabogal (E.J.P.), ESSALUD, Callao, Peru.
I. Gonzales, MD
From the Cysticercosis Unit (H.H.G., S.R., I.G., R.H.G.), Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Neurológicas, Lima; Department of Microbiology (H.H.G., I.G., R.H.G.), School of Sciences, and Center for Global Health, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru; Department of International Health (H.H.G., A.E.G., I.G., R.H.G.), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD; School of Veterinary Medicine (A.E.G.), Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru; Georgia State University (V.C.W.T.), Atlanta, GA; and Hospital Nacional Alberto Sabogal (E.J.P.), ESSALUD, Callao, Peru.
R.H. Gilman, MD, DTMH
From the Cysticercosis Unit (H.H.G., S.R., I.G., R.H.G.), Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Neurológicas, Lima; Department of Microbiology (H.H.G., I.G., R.H.G.), School of Sciences, and Center for Global Health, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru; Department of International Health (H.H.G., A.E.G., I.G., R.H.G.), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD; School of Veterinary Medicine (A.E.G.), Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru; Georgia State University (V.C.W.T.), Atlanta, GA; and Hospital Nacional Alberto Sabogal (E.J.P.), ESSALUD, Callao, Peru.
For The Cysticercosis Working Group in Peru
From the Cysticercosis Unit (H.H.G., S.R., I.G., R.H.G.), Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Neurológicas, Lima; Department of Microbiology (H.H.G., I.G., R.H.G.), School of Sciences, and Center for Global Health, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru; Department of International Health (H.H.G., A.E.G., I.G., R.H.G.), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD; School of Veterinary Medicine (A.E.G.), Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru; Georgia State University (V.C.W.T.), Atlanta, GA; and Hospital Nacional Alberto Sabogal (E.J.P.), ESSALUD, Callao, Peru.

Notes

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Hector H. Garcia, Cysticercosis Unit, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Neurologicas, Jr. Ancash 1271, Barrios Altos, Lima 1, Peru [email protected]

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