Diagnosis and treatment of intraventricular cysticercosis

Objective: In order to diagnose and treat the cases of intraventricular cysticercus correctly. Methods: Eleven cases of intraventricular single cysticercus were analysed retrospectivly. Results: Eight cysticerci were located in the fourth ventricle. Two were in the third ventricle. One in the third ventricle, passing through interventricular foramen into the right lateral ventricle. It is like dumbbell and exceptionally seen. Clinical manifestations included paroxysmal headache, vomiting, compelled head position and space occupying signs of the posterior cranial fossa. All patients had no epilepsy attack. In all cases we could see the ventriculus shape change and hydrocephalus by CT. Thin walled cystic space occupying lesion and attached wall cysticercus tubercle were showed by MRI. It is different from cerebral intraparenchymatous cysticercus in pathology because of lack of neuroglial cells proliferation around the cyst wall under light microscope. Conclusion: Only if the diagnosis of intraventricular cysticercosis is correct and intraventricular cysticercus is excised totally, a good outcome can be achieved.