title: MRI studies of spinal visceral larva migrans syndrome.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 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
authors.forename: Fujio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Umehara
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ookatsu
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Akifumi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uchida
authors.forename: Yukari
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Douchi
authors.forename: Hisashi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kawabata
authors.forename: Rina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hashiguchi
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Matsuura
authors.forename: Ryuichi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Okubo
authors.forename: Itsuro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Higuchi
authors.forename: Kimiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Arimura
authors.forename: Yukifumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nawa
authors.forename: Mitsuhiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Osame
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000871:Anthelmintics; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000941:Antigens; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents