Aline Lariessy Campos Paiva1, João Luiz Vitorino Araujo2, Vinicius Ricieri Ferraz1, Renan Maximilian Lovato1, Charles Alfred Grander Pedrozo1, Guilherme Brasileiro de Aguiar3, José Carlos Esteves Veiga4. 1. MD. Resident, Discipline of Neurosurgery, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo (FCMSCSP), São Paulo (SP), Brazil. 2. PhD. Attending Neurosurgeon, Discipline of Neurosurgery, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo (FCMSCSP), and Neurosurgeon at Arnaldo Vieira de Carvalho Cancer Institute, Oncocenter and Hospital Nove de Julho, São Paulo (SP), Brazil. 3. MSc. Attending Neurosurgeon, Discipline of Neurosurgery, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo (FCMSCSP), São Paulo (SP), Brazil. 4. PhD. Full Professor and Head, Discipline of Neurosurgery, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo (FCMSCSP), São Paulo (SP), Brazil.
Abstract
CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: : Neurocysticercosis is prevalent in developing countries and manifests with several neurological signs and symptoms that may be fatal. The cysts may be parenchymal or extraparenchymal and therefore several signs and symptoms may occur. Depending on their location, neurosurgical procedures may be required, sometimes as emergencies. The aim here was to review 10-year statistics on all surgical neurocysticercosis cases at a large public tertiary-level hospital. DESIGN AND SETTING: : Retrospective cohort at a large public tertiary-level hospital. METHODS: : All surgical neurocysticercosis cases seen between July 2006 and July 2016 were reviewed. Parenchymal and extraparenchymal forms were considered, along with every type of surgical procedure (shunt, endoscopic third ventriculostomy and craniotomy). The literature was reviewed through PubMed, using the terms "neurocysticercosis", "surgery", "shunt" and "hydrocephalus". RESULTS: : 37 patients underwent neurosurgical procedures during the study period. Most were male (62.16%) and extraparenchymal cases predominated (81%). Patients aged 41 to 50 years were most affected (35.13%) and those 20 years or under were unaffected. Ventricular forms were most frequently associated with hydrocephalus and required permanent shunts in most cases (56.57%). CONCLUSIONS: : The treatment of neurocysticercosis depends on the impairment: the parenchymal type usually does not require surgery, which is more common in the extraparenchymal form. Hydrocephalus is a frequent complication because the cysts often obstruct the cerebrospinal flow. The cysts should be removed whenever possible, to avoid the need for permanent shunts.
CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: : Neurocysticercosis is prevalent in developing countries and manifests with several neurological signs and symptoms that may be fatal. The cysts may be parenchymal or extraparenchymal and therefore several signs and symptoms may occur. Depending on their location, neurosurgical procedures may be required, sometimes as emergencies. The aim here was to review 10-year statistics on all surgical neurocysticercosis cases at a large public tertiary-level hospital. DESIGN AND SETTING: : Retrospective cohort at a large public tertiary-level hospital. METHODS: : All surgical neurocysticercosis cases seen between July 2006 and July 2016 were reviewed. Parenchymal and extraparenchymal forms were considered, along with every type of surgical procedure (shunt, endoscopic third ventriculostomy and craniotomy). The literature was reviewed through PubMed, using the terms "neurocysticercosis", "surgery", "shunt" and "hydrocephalus". RESULTS: : 37 patients underwent neurosurgical procedures during the study period. Most were male (62.16%) and extraparenchymal cases predominated (81%). Patients aged 41 to 50 years were most affected (35.13%) and those 20 years or under were unaffected. Ventricular forms were most frequently associated with hydrocephalus and required permanent shunts in most cases (56.57%). CONCLUSIONS: : The treatment of neurocysticercosis depends on the impairment: the parenchymal type usually does not require surgery, which is more common in the extraparenchymal form. Hydrocephalus is a frequent complication because the cysts often obstruct the cerebrospinal flow. The cysts should be removed whenever possible, to avoid the need for permanent shunts.