Spinal cysticercosis is a rare and severe cysticercosis complication. The pathology is from the inflammatory reaction and granuloma formation around the eggs, which cause focal neurological deficits. Because of the rarity of this condition, diagnosis may be delayed and confused with other myelopathies such as neoplasms or myelitis. We report a 42-year-old woman with low back pain and paraplegia. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a lesion in the spinal canal at the level of L4/L5 that was toward the diagnosis of myelitis. The patient underwent an open biopsy, and the result was granulomatosis caused by cysticercosis. The patient was then given an anticysticercosis medication and gradually recovered.
Keywords: Magnetic resonance imaging; Parasite; Spinal cysticercosis.
© 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of University of Washington.