Third-ventricular neurocysticercosis: hydraulic maneuvers facilitating endoscopic resection.

BACKGROUND

Neurocysticercosis, an infection of the central nervous system with the larval cysts of the pork tapeworm, Taenia solium, is the most common parasitic disease of the central nervous system. The disease is a major global cause of acquired epilepsy and may also manifest as intracranial hypertension due to mass effect from large cysts or to cerebrospinal fluid flow obstruction by intraventricular cysts or inflammation of the subarachnoid space. While the condition is endemic in several regions of the world and has been appreciated as a public health problem in such regions for several decades, its emergence in the USA in areas far from the Mexican border is a more recent phenomenon.

METHODS

We present a case of surgically corrected acute hydrocephalus in a recent Haitian emigrant child due to a third ventricular neurocysticercal cyst complex.

RESULTS

We describe the endoscope-assisted en bloc removal of the complex, together with hydraulic maneuvers facilitating the removal of the intact cyst.

CONCLUSIONS

Simple hydraulic maneuvers can facilitate the endoscopic en bloc removal of third ventricular neurocysticercal cysts.