A Comprehensive Review of Worldwide Case Series of Neurocysticercosis and Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy with Hippocampal Sclerosis.

BACKGROUND

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a frequent cause of epilepsy in endemic regions. An association between NCC and hippocampal sclerosis (HS), a key pathological substrate of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy, has been increasingly reported but remains controversial.

SUMMARY: A literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect focusing on publications describing epilepsy due to NCC with HS. Twenty-three original articles, identified through 2023, were retrieved from Brazil, Ecuador, India, Mexico, and Korea. The proposed relationships between NCC and HS include incidental coexistence, NCC as an initial precipitating injury, and the presence of a third variable. While multiple hypotheses have been discussed and reported cases compiled, the precise nature of this association remains unresolved.

KEY MESSAGES: Although the mechanisms underlying the relationship between NCC and HS are not fully elucidated, evidence supports their coexistence in patients with epilepsy. Recognition of this association is important for clinical evaluation and may guide future research on pathogenesis and management.