B. Vijaya Nirmala1, K. Padmamalini2, N. Sreemani Kumari3, N. L. N. Moorthy4, O. Shravan Kumar5, Sreedharala Srinivasa Satyanarayana6
OBJECTIVE: Ventricular neurocysticercosis of a lateral ventricle causing unilateral hydrocephalus is a rare condition. They can be misdiagnosed as hydatid cyst thus presenting as a diagnostic dilemma as happened in our case.
SETTINGS: Gandhi Medical College/Gandhi Hospital, Secunderabad, Telangana State, India.
METHODS: A 34 year old male brought to casualty in a drowsy condition complaining of sudden loss of consciousness with a history of headache, one episode of vomiting, irritability and diminision of vision of short duration. CT brain (image-1) was suggestive of left unilateral hydrocephalus. MRI scan (images 2-4B) showed a left lateral ventricular cyst causing unilateral hydrocephalus suggestive of a neurocysticercal cyst / arachnoid cyst. The patient was operated with complete removal of the cyst. Grossly (image-5), the cyst was looking like hydatid cyst. But microscopically the cyst showed histopathological features of a cysticercal parasite.
RESULTS: The patient showed immediate neurological improvement with reduction in headache, irritability and improvement of the vision. He showed gradual recovery on regular follow-ups.
CONCLUSION: Intraventricular neurocysticercosis of lateral ventricle is an uncommon presentation, causing unilateral hydrocephalus which is a rare condition. Complications are prevented by treating acute obstructive hydrocephalus immediately and patient will recover completely as was seen in our case.
