Original Article

Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society. 1994; 23(3): 299-304.

Clinical Analysis of Cerebral Sparganosis.

Seung Hwan Youn, Chul Hu, Jhin Soo Pyen, Soon Ki Hong, Hun Joo Kim, and Yong Pyo Han

Department of Neurosurgery, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju, Korea.

The tape-worm spirometra mansonoides infests man world-widely, particularly in Asian countries with rare involvement of the central nervous system. Recently, the authors have experienced 7 cases of cerebral sparganosis, and reviewed their clinical manifestation, radiographic findings, operative and pathologic findings, and follow-up results. The cerebral sparganosis manifests headache, seizure, or hemiparesis. Most of patient had episodes of eating frogs or snakes. The brain CT scan showed low density area with ipsilateral ventricular dilatation. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) test showed positive response to serum and cerebrospinal fluid. The best treatment for cerebral sparganosis mansoni is surgical removal, from which we confirmed 4(17%) cases of live worms in operative and patholgic findings, and most of the seizure disappeared or decreased after operation.

Keywords : Cerebral sparganosis;ELISA test