title: Paucisymptomatic brainstem lesions revealing CNS schistosomiasis.
abstract: We describe clinical and magnetic resonance (MR) features in a 69-year-old, Caucasian woman presenting with an unusual meningeal onset of cerebral schistosomiasis. Magnetic resonance work-up demonstrated supra- and infratentorial lesions with prominent brainstem involvement contrasting with the paucisymptomatic clinical presentation. Because of a recent stay in Uganda, including swimming in Lake Victoria, a diagnosis of neuroschistosomiasis was suggested. Serological tests and rectal biopsy confirmed the putative diagnosis. The patient was successfully treated with praziquantel at a dose of 50 mg/kg/day for 15 days. Brain MRI abnormalities improved dramatically within two months.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rommel
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ragé
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Duprez
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Parent
authors.forename: C J M
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Sindic
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D004244:Dizziness / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008578:Meninges / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D020818:Neuroschistosomiasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology*; D010063:Ovum / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000502:physiology*; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014454:Uganda
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D011223:Praziquantel