title: Cerebral Sparganosis in Children: Epidemiologic and Radiologic Characteristics and Treatment Outcomes: A Report of 9 Cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pediatric cerebral sparganosis has been seldom reported. In the current study, we retrospectively reviewed the clinicopathologic records of 9 consecutive pediatric cases of cerebral sparganosis and analyzed their epidemiologic characteristics and clinical outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our cases included 6 boys and 3 girls, all from rural areas, and their median age at diagnosis was 9.4 (range, 5.8-12.9) years. The median duration of symptoms from onset to definite diagnosis was 21 months (range, 1 week to 3.7 years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay revealed that serum anti-sparganosis antibody was positive in 9 of 9 patients and cerebrospinal fluid anti-sparganosis antibody was positive in 4 of 6 patients. Eight patients underwent craniotomy the removal of worms. The patients also received oral praziquantel. They were followed up for 2.2 years to 4.4 years. One patient died, and 8 patients survived. Three cases had poor outcomes whereas the outcome of the remaining 5 cases was satisfactory.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children are more at risk for sparganosis and cerebral sparganosis may be missed because of unclear epidemiologic history and nonspecific manifestations. Cerebrospinal fluid eosinophil counts and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for anti-sparganosis antibody and computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging scans may be relied on for an early and accurate diagnosis before surgery.
authors: Department of Neurology, The Children's Hospital Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
authors: Yonglin
authors: Y
authors: Yu
authors: Department of Neurology, The Children's Hospital Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
authors: Jue
authors: J
authors: Shen
authors: Department of Neurology, The Children's Hospital Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
authors: Zhefeng
authors: Z
authors: Yuan
authors: Department of Neurology, The Children's Hospital Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
authors: Zhezhi
authors: Z
authors: Xia
authors: Department of Neurology, The Children's Hospital Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
authors: Feng
authors: F
authors: Gao
authors: Department of Neurology, The Children's Hospital Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
authors: Lihua
authors: L
authors: Jiang
authors: Department of Neurology, The Children's Hospital Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China. Electronic address: jiangkw_zju@zju.edu.cn.
authors: Kewen
authors: K
authors: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D020809:Central Nervous System Helminthiasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D003399:Craniotomy; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012424:Rural Population; D013031:Sparganosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: Cerebral sparganosis; Clinical outcomes; Clinicopathologic; Pediatric