Histopathologically Compatible Neurocysticercosis Mimicking an Intracranial Tumor in a Child.
6 affiliations
- 1Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey.
- 2St George's Vaccine Institute, St George's University of London, London, United Kingdom.
- 3Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Haseki Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
- 4Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Lutfi Kirdar Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
- 5Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey.
- 6Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Biruni University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Abstract
Neurocysticercosis is the most common parasitic infection of the central nervous system and may mimic neoplastic, infectious, or granulomatous lesions, particularly in non-endemic settings. Diagnosis can be challenging when characteristic radiological findings are absent. An 11-year-old boy presented with persistent headache and dizziness. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated a 6 × 8 mm right temporal lesion with ring-like peripheral enhancement and marked surrounding vasogenic edema. The lesion appeared hypointense on T1-weighted sequences and hyperintense on T2-weighted and FLAIR images. The differential diagnosis included neoplasm, bacterial abscess, granulomatous infection, and parasitic disease. Because the lesion could not be reliably characterized noninvasively and an intracranial tumor could not be excluded, neurosurgical excision was performed. Histopathological examination demonstrated parasitic structures morphologically compatible with cysticercosis, including PAS-positive tegumental components and sucker-like structures suggestive of a cestode larva. Following the pathological diagnosis, a detailed epidemiological history revealed chronic intermittent gastrointestinal complaints and a history of antiparasitic treatment among siblings. The patient received albendazole therapy, and follow-up neuroimaging demonstrated regression of both the lesion and surrounding edema. This case highlights the importance of considering histopathologically suspected neurocysticercosis in the differential diagnosis of solitary enhancing brain lesions in children, even in regions where the disease is considered uncommon. Histopathological evaluation may be required when neuroimaging findings are non-specific and malignancy cannot be excluded.
Related
- Giant intracranial neurocysticercosis mimicking brain tumors: Two illustrative cases with a practical neurosurgical decision-making algorithm.
- Intracranial phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor mimicking meningioma and causing tumor-induced osteomalacia: a case report.
- Intracranial Rosai–Dorfman Disease Presenting as a Posterior Fossa Dural-Based Mass Mimicking Meningioma: A Case Report
- Transradial Intracranial Aneurysm Embolization Using a 7F Sheath-Compatible 0.087-Inch Guide Catheter: A Single-Center Retrospective Study
- A Hemorrhagic Spinal Tumor Presenting as an Intracranial Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
BibTeX
@article{tuncay2026histopathologically,
title = {{Histopathologically Compatible Neurocysticercosis Mimicking an Intracranial Tumor in a Child.}},
author = {Sevgi Aslan Tuncay and Zeynep Ergenc and Seyhan Yilmaz and Burcu Parlak and Pinar Canizci Erdemli and Aylin Dizi Isik and Adnan Dagcinar and Eda Kepenekli},
journal = {Iranian journal of parasitology},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.18502/ijpa.v21i3.22599},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42974520},
note = {CC BY-NC},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Histopathologically Compatible Neurocysticercosis Mimicking an Intracranial Tumor in a Child.
AU - Sevgi Aslan Tuncay
AU - Zeynep Ergenc
AU - Seyhan Yilmaz
AU - Burcu Parlak
AU - Pinar Canizci Erdemli
AU - Aylin Dizi Isik
AU - Adnan Dagcinar
AU - Eda Kepenekli
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - Iranian journal of parasitology
DO - 10.18502/ijpa.v21i3.22599
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42974520
AB - Neurocysticercosis is the most common parasitic infection of the central nervous system and may mimic neoplastic, infectious, or granulomatous lesions, particularly in non-endemic settings. Diagnosis can be challenging when characteristic radiological findings are absent. An 11-year-old boy presented with persistent headache and dizziness. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated a 6 × 8 mm right temporal lesion with ring-like peripheral enhancement and marked surrounding vasogenic edema. The lesion appeared hypointense on T1-weighted sequences and hyperintense on T2-weighted and FLAIR images. The differential diagnosis included neoplasm, bacterial abscess, granulomatous infection, and parasitic disease. Because the lesion could not be reliably characterized noninvasively and an intracranial tumor could not be excluded, neurosurgical excision was performed. Histopathological examination demonstrated parasitic structures morphologically compatible with cysticercosis, including PAS-positive tegumental components and sucker-like structures suggestive of a cestode larva. Following the pathological diagnosis, a detailed epidemiological history revealed chronic intermittent gastrointestinal complaints and a history of antiparasitic treatment among siblings. The patient received albendazole therapy, and follow-up neuroimaging demonstrated regression of both the lesion and surrounding edema. This case highlights the importance of considering histopathologically suspected neurocysticercosis in the differential diagnosis of solitary enhancing brain lesions in children, even in regions where the disease is considered uncommon. Histopathological evaluation may be required when neuroimaging findings are non-specific and malignancy cannot be excluded.
SN - 1735-7020
SN - 2008-238X
ER -