Computed tomography in neurocysticercosis: a 10-year long evolution analysis of 100 patients with an appraisal of a new classification.
Three hundred and fifty seven computed tomography (CT) from 100 different patients with neurocysticercosis (NC) were studied between 1979 and 1988. All patients were treated with praziquantel (PZQ). A new classification attempting to recognize the CT evolution profile in NC as well as assigning a possible link between CT findings and biological conditions of cysts is evaluated. It was possible to conclude that: intact cysts remain unchanged in consecutive CTs by 11 months and exhibit signs of degeneration in about 18 months after PZQ drug therapy; degenerating cysts can be detected by 10.5 months, disappear in 11 months and become nodular calcifications in about 25 months. Therefore, a time period of at least 36 months can be estimated for the complete evolution profile of cysts in the brain parenchyma.
Machado
L R
LR
Neurology Department, São Paulo University Medicine School, Brasil.
Nobrega
J P
JP
Barros
N G
NG
Livramento
J A
JA
Bacheschi
L A
LA
Spina-França
A
A
D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy; D003551:Cysticercosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D011223:Praziquantel