Positive reaction for cysticercosis and multicentric anaplastic oligoastrocytoma.
BACKGROUND
An unusual case of positive immunological testing for cysticercosis in the cystic fluid obtained from an anaplastic oligoastrocytoma is presented.


METHODS
A 15-year-old boy was admitted with multiple brain lesions. The biggest was a cyst with a mural node and neurocysticercosis was suspected. In order to relieve intracranial pressure, the cyst was punctured and the immunological testing for cysticercosis was positive, reinforcing the clinical suspicion and leading to a clinical trial with albendazole and steroids. As the patient deteriorated the cystic lesion was removed and the diagnosis of anaplastic oligoastrocytoma was established. A second lesion was eventually approached and the histopathological diagnosis of both specimens concurred.


CONCLUSIONS
Although some authors believe that chronic inflammatory changes following neurocysticercosis could induce the formation of brain tumors, this association may be a mere coincidence. In our case no clinical evidence of a prior infestation by Cysticercus was found. In fact, an exhaustive examination of the specimens did not reveal any areas of inflammatory reaction. We believe that the similarity of the glioma and cysticercosis antigens may be the cause of the positive reactions in the cystic fluid.
Salomão
J Francisco
JF
Section of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Instituto Fernandes Figueira (Fundação Oswaldo Cruz), Av. Rui Barbosa, 716-Flamengo, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. fsalomao@ism.com.br
Pone
Marcos V
MV
da Silva
André R A
AR
Leibinger
René D
RD
Bellas
Antonio R
AR
Campos
João Maurício S
JM
Garrido
José Roberto P
JR
Vanazzi
Elide
E
de Barros
Ana C M W
AC
Pone
Sheila M
SM
Boechat
Márcia B
MB
D000293:Adolescent; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D003551:Cysticercosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009837:Oligodendroglioma / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods
D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein