Intrathecal gadodiamide for identifying subarachnoid and ventricular neurocysticercosis.
OBJECTIVE
Some neurocysticercosis cysts may remain hidden despite novel MRI sequences. This study evaluates the diagnostic value of gadodiamide (GDD)-contrasted MRI cisternography in selected cases of neurocysticercosis.


METHODS
We included patients aged 18-65 years with a probable diagnosis of subarachnoid cysticercosis in whom previous neuroimaging studies failed to demonstrate the presence of cysts. One millilitre of GDD was administered intrathecally as a contrast agent with subsequent performance of MRI.


RESULTS
Fourteen patients were included. Optimal contrast diffusion was achieved in nine patients, and partial diffusion was achieved in 4. Intracranial vesicles were identified in 10 patients, with the presence of more than 60 basal subarachnoid vesicles being revealed in all, with five cysts in the fourth ventricle in four patients and a floating cyst in the lateral ventricle in one. In one case, intrathecal GDD demonstrated spinal cysticercosis. No adverse events were reported after intrathecal GDD administration.


CONCLUSIONS
Intrathecal GDD administration is useful for the diagnosis of subarachnoid and intraventricular neurocysticercosis and can be used to improve diagnostic accuracy in selected cases.
Department of Neuroradiology, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery Manuel Velasco Suárez, Distrito Federal, México.
Jesús
J
Higuera-Calleja
Department of Neurology, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery Manuel Velasco Suárez, Distrito Federal, México.|Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitario José Eleuterio González, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, México.
Fernando
F
Góngora-Rivera
Department of Infectious Diseases, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía Manuel Velasco Suárez, Distrito Federal, México.
José Luis
JL
Soto-Hernández
School of Medicine, Universidad de Especialidades Espíritu Santo, Guayaquil, Ecuador.
Oscar H
OH
Del-Brutto
Department of Neuroradiology, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery Manuel Velasco Suárez, Distrito Federal, México.
Talía
T
Moreno-Andrade
Department of Neuroradiology, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery Manuel Velasco Suárez, Distrito Federal, México.
Ramón
R
Gutiérrez-Alvarado
Department of Neuroradiology, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery Manuel Velasco Suárez, Distrito Federal, México.
Jesús
J
Rodríguez-Carbajal
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D016080:Arachnoid Cysts / Q000175:diagnosis; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020019:Neurocysticercosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013116:Spinal Cord; D013346:Subarachnoid Space; D013621:Taenia; D055815:Young Adult
D003287:Contrast Media; C064925:gadodiamide; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA
Gadodiamida Intratecal; Neurocisticercosis; cisticercosis subaracnoidea; cysticercose méningée; gadodiamide intrathécale; intrathecal gadodiamide; neurocysticercose; neurocysticercosis; subarachnoid cysticercosis