[Neurocysticercosis in children: clinical and radiological analysis and prognostic factors in 54 patients].

INTRODUCTION AND MATERIAL

We studied 54 patients younger than 17 years of age with neurocysticercosis to determine the clinical manifestations, neuroimaging findings, and prognostic factors of this condition.

RESULTS

Seizures were present in 48 patients, representing the most common clinical manifestation. Forty-eight patients had a normal neurological examination, and only 3 patients had clinical evidence of increased intracranial pressure. CT scan of the brain revealed parenchymal brain cysticerci in 52 patients; one patient had a pure subarachnoid form of the disease and the remaining patient had a mixed (subarachnoid and parenchymal) form. The most common CT finding in patients with parenchymal neurocysticercosis was a single colloidal cyst (19 cases). All patients with seizures were treated with anti-epileptic drugs with an excellent rate of seizure-control. In addition, 23 patients received albendazole that caused resolution of cystic lesions in 19 cases. Anti-epileptic drugs were withdrawn in 13 patients who remained free of seizures during two years. However, 9 (69%) of these patients had recurrent seizures.

CONCLUSION

This evidence is in contrast with the reported benign course of neurocysticercosis in children, since most patients had seizure relapses despite therapy.