MRI studies of spinal visceral larva migrans syndrome.
We report serial MR findings in four patients with myelitis caused by visceral larva migrans syndrome due to Toxocara canis or Ascaris suum infection. MR imaging revealed spinal cord swelling with or without gadolinium enhancement in three patients. T2-weighted images showed high signal intensities preferentially located in both lateral and posterior columns. Antihelmintic and corticosteroid treatment yielded improvement in neurologic deficits and spinal lesions. However, one patient with T. canis infection relapsed associated with reappearance of MRI abnormalities.
Umehara
Fujio
F
Department of Neurology and Geriatrics, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Sakuragaoka 8-35-1, Kagoshima, 890-8520, Japan. umehara@m2.kufm.kagoshima-u.ac.jp
Ookatsu
Hideki
H
Hayashi
Daisuke
D
Uchida
Akifumi
A
Douchi
Yukari
Y
Kawabata
Hisashi
H
Goto
Rina
R
Hashiguchi
Akihiro
A
Matsuura
Eiji
E
Okubo
Ryuichi
R
Higuchi
Itsuro
I
Arimura
Kimiyoshi
K
Nawa
Yukifumi
Y
Osame
Mitsuhiro
M
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000941:Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents; D001196:Ascariasis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D017165:Ascaris suum / Q000502:physiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007816:Larva Migrans, Visceral / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017166:Toxocara canis / Q000502:physiology; D014120:Toxocariasis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000871:Anthelmintics; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000941:Antigens; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents