[Frequency of neurocysticercosis at a hospital in Madrid (1980-1989)].

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) in Spain remains localized in well-defined endemic areas. Due to massive immigration from these rural areas toward urban outskirts under expanding industrialization during the 1960s and the widespread used of CT-scan, a relatively large number of NCC cases were subsequently detected in some hospitals in Madrid, reportedly with a trend towards decline from 1970 onwards. We carried-out an estimation on the frequency of this disease covering a 10-year period (1980-1989) by tracing all suspected diagnosis of NCC by CT-scan in Madrid General Hospital, one of the largest centers in this city covering some 672,351 people. Thirteen cases fulfilling diagnostic criteria for NCC has been seen by different clinical services for the past 10 years, mostly by neurologists. The patients were evenly distributed along the study period. Eleven patients were Spaniards, and all but two were born in geographic areas recognized as endemic for the disorder, mainly Castilla, Extremadura and Andalucia. At least 38 per cent of the patients were detected by CT-scans performed for unrelated conditions. Only 5 patients were considered to be suffering from active CNS infestation on the basis of CSF pleocytosis, immune CSF reactions for NCC or both. Most cases were adults or aged individuals (mean age, 46 years) but the only two Spanish adolescents were born in Madrid city. Two patients were of Hispanic origin (Chili and Venezuela), comprising some 25 per cent of all NCC seen for the past five years.