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With the purpose to verify clinical aspects of hydrocephalus (HC) in patients with neurocysticercosis (NCC), a retrospective study of 47 patients was performed. The majority of patients (70.2%) were men aging 21-50 years. Intracranial hypertension (ICH) occurred in all patients, headache (HA) in 42 (89.4%), meningoencephalitis (ME) in 38 (80.8%) and psychiatric disorders (PD) in 34 (72.3%). The cerebrospinal fluid syndrome of NCC was detected in 31 patients (65.9%). In addition to HC, computed tomography (CT) scans showed cystic lesions in 28 (59.6%) patients, diffuse brain edema also in 28 (59.6%), and calcifications in 26 (55.3%). Shunts were inserted in 41 (87.2%) patients and 22 (53.7%) of them were submitted to 1-7 surgical revision/patient (mean=3) that were higher (mean=4) in those who died than in survivors (mean=2). Evolution was satisfactory in 24 (51.1%) patients and fatal in 15 (31.9%). It is possible to conclude that, in patients with NCC, HC occurs predominantly in men in productive life with ICH, HA, ME and PD as common manifestations, and the need for shunt revision makes patient's prognosis worse.

The aim of this study was to drawn an epidemiological and clinical profile of the neurocysticercosis (NCC) patients assisted by Hospital Universitário Regional de Maringá. A transversal, retrospective and descriptive study based on 6,100 records of the Neurology, Neuropediatry, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry clinics was done from January/1998 to December/2004. Of these, 48 were selected with diagnosis of NCC. The prevalence was greater in female (p<0.001), 31-60 years (43.7%), and urban zone (93.8%). The number of NCC cases overcame those notified to the Epidemic Surveillance in 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002 and 2004. The epilepsy due to NCC (CI=1.77;16.07; p=0.0024) was generalized and of late onset in 91.7% patients, being associated to headache in 37.5% ones. There was need of hospitalization in 22.9% of the patients (medium time of 3.91+/-3.35 days). It was concluded that the epidemiological and clinical profile observed is peculiar, displaying some common points with other Brazilian studies.

The geographic distribution of case registered in the System of Hospital Information of Ceará (1996-2004) and its relation with flock swine and availability of computerized tomography scan in patients' residence city, from those were studied. 424 Patients were admitted with cysticercosis (neurocysticercosis 98.3%) originating from 75 cities. No relation existed between computerized tomography in city of residence or swine flocks and cysticercosis prevelance.

Neurocysticercosis is a serious public health problem that predominantly affects places with poor sanitary and hygiene conditions. The Piaui State is out of the neurocysticercosis map in Brazil but, as this study illustrates, it is just by lack of epidemiologic data. We demonstrate the presence of this pathology in the State of Piaui based on a case report of a 39 years old man, followed for 17 months. The diagnosis was made by CT scan and the patient was treated with albendazol for 10 days. A new CT scan show absence of lesions. He needed to be treated again after a recurrence of clinical manifestations, 6 months after the first treatment, with the disappearance of the new lesions.

This research involved a sample of 110 epileptic patients from western Cariri, Paraíba, Brazil and it has been developed in three successive phases. During the first one, an epidemiological form was applied with the aim of identifying risk factors related to the taeniasis cysticercosis complex in the etiology of the patients' epilepsy. The second phase consisted of immunological exams of 110 patients, by means of the EITB technique to identify the anti-cysticerci serum antibodies, whereas the presence of circulating antigens was verified through the ELISA technique. In the third phase, thirteen patients who were seropositive, were submitted to brain CT scan. Applying the questionnaire enabled us to know some risk factors. The seroprevalence detected was 118.2/1000 inhabitants. Out of the 13 seropositive patients for cysticercosis, 46.1% presented parenchymal cysticercotic damage. Based on these results, we are able to conclude that the studied towns reveal an epidemiological profile which is compatible with the occurrence of the taeniasis cysticercosis complex and cysticercosis plays an important role in the sprouting of epilepsy in these patients.

Case sheets of 44 patients with neurocysticercosis, coming from Campina Grande and others cities of Para ba state, examined between 1990 - 2001 were analyzed. The average age (SD +/-) was 20.6 +/- 14.3 years old, of which 54.5% were male. Thirty eight patients (86.2%) came from urban area. The initial symptom was convulsion in 90.9% of the cases and headaches in 9.1%. The epileptical form was present in 63.6% of the cases and the combined form in 22.3%. Computerized tomography of the skull was compatible with neurocysticercosis in 100% of the cases, showing calcification in (59.1%), integral cysts in (18.2%) and in degenerating in (20.4%), isolated or associated. The LCR performed on 29 patients showed alterations in 25 (86.2%) cases, predominating linfomonocitary pleocitose in 100% of the cases and positive immunological reactions in 64.3% of the cases. In conclusion neurocysticercosis is a frequent cause for convulsions in children and young adults in this region, and the ocorrence in urbane and rural areas denote the poor control of the taeniases/cistycercosis complex in this state.

The authors report a case of neurocysticercosis by giant cyst (3.9 x 3.4 cm), where there were clinical manifestations of increased intracranial pressure and characteristics of image in computed tomography of cranium of expansive process with mass effect in central nervous system (CNS). They comment the possibility of the tumoral form of this disease having clinical and radiological presentation similar to other expansive processes of CNS and stress the surgical procedure as a form of treatment and diagnostic confirmation.

It has been estimated that 50 million people are infected with the taeniasis/cysticercosis complex in the world today and that 50,000 die each year. It also appears that 350,000 individuals remain infected in Latin America. In Ribeirão Preto, Brazil, neurocysticercosis has been identified in 7.5% of the patients admitted to a ward specialized in the treatment of neurologic diseases. Its clinical manifestations comprise seizures, intracranial hypertension, cysticercotic meningitis, psychiatric symptoms, apoplectic or endarteritic form, and spinal cord syndrome. Lethality of neurocysticercosis varies from 16.4% to 25.9%. Diagnosis is dependent on the results of computed tomography of the brain and examination of the cerebrospinal fluid. Lately, albendazole in association with steroids has been elected the treatment of choice for neurocysticercosis. In the authors' opinion, compulsory notification of cases and preventive measures should be implemented. In Brazil, in the absence of a centralized program of control, regional initiatives should be stimulated, keeping in mind WHO's advice: "Think globally, act locally".

We report the case of a 42-year-old woman with a racemous cystecercus in the right cerebellopontine angle (CPA), who presented with bilateral trigeminal neuralgia. The parasite was completly removed via a right suboccipital craniotomy. On the first postoperative day, the patient indicated that the pain disappeared. The neuralgia was caused by two probable mechanisms: a distortion of the brain stem and compression of the nerve against an arterial loop at the entry zone or arachnoiditis caused by the parasite in the both CPA cisternae. This case demonstrates the advisability of obtaining imaging studies in all patients with trigeminal neuralgia before starting any management. We must always remind that the cysticercus may be a differential diagnosis of CPA lesions.