Only a minor inflammatory reaction is seen if the cyst walls remain intact and the organism is viable. After the death of the parasite, the cyst wall and surrounding neural parenchyma are infiltrated by intense inflammatory reaction.14 MRI is generally better than computed tomography scanning for BIBF 1120 the diagnosis of NCC, particularly in patients with skull base lesions, brainstem cysts, intraventricular cysts, and spinal lesions. Nevertheless, an important

shortcoming in the accuracy of MRI for the diagnosis of NCC is the detection of small calcifications.2 The entire neuraxis should be evaluated to find additional lesions.15 Immunodiagnostic tests of serum samples have been widely used to exclude or confirm the diagnosis of NCC in patients with neurological signs but in whom neuroimaging findings are inconclusive. The ELISA and immunoblots are most commonly used.7 Therapy must be individualized according to the level of disease activity, location, and number of parasites within the central nervous system. Given the rarity of spinal involvement, treatment recommendations were based on the published literature. According to the treatment guidelines, treatment of spinal cysticercosis FDA approved Drug Library is primarily surgical.16 Nonetheless, there are anecdotal reports of successful use of albendazole and steroids without surgery.17 Parenchymal NCC is considered to be most responsive to pharmacological

intervention.4 Surgical treatment is required in cases of spinal NCC in which patients experience severe and progressive neurological dysfunction regardless of whether medical therapy has been attempted.4 The drugs of choice for the antiparasitic treatment are albendazole and praziquantel. Since the inflammation

is a conspicuous accompaniment in many forms of NCC, corticosteroids are also concurrently used as therapy for meningitis, cysticercal encephalitis, and angiitis. We described a rare case of isolated intradural-extramedullary cysticercosis treated successfully with surgical treatment. Spinal cysticercosis is not commonly seen in developed countries and should be considered in the differential Interleukin-2 receptor diagnosis in high-risk populations with new symptoms suggestive of a spinal mass lesion. Timely diagnosis and treatment can lead to a successful outcome in patients with spinal cysticercosis. Unstained histopathological specimens are strongly recommended to be applied for confirmation of the haplotype of mtDNA which may indicate where the infection was acquired from.1,7,8 We thank Dr Karen Santa Cruz for her help in taking digital photos of the histopathology. The authors state that they have no conflicts of interest to declare. “
“Taenia solium, the pork tapeworm, is endemic in most developing countries. The adult tapeworm only lives in the small intestine of humans, who get infected eating poorly cooked pork with cystic larvae.