I thought it was a brain tumor, but a rare parasite infection...Announcement of Cases of Inflammatory Lesions Treatment
Dec 30, 2024
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A joint research team led by Professor Baek Sun-ha of neurosurgery at Seoul National University Hospital and Professor Park Hye-ran of neurosurgery at Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital announced on the 30th that they have accurately diagnosed lesions of female patients in their 40s who visited Seoul National University Hospital due to Sparganosis parasitic infection and successfully removed live parasites through craniotomy.
Sparganosis is a rare parasitic infection that occurs when larvae penetrate the body and travel to the brain through the bloodstream. Infection occurs primarily when contaminated water is consumed or meat or fish from unripe wild animals, and is rarely transmitted through skin wounds. When infected parasites migrate to the brain, early symptoms such as headaches and vomiting appear, and over time, they can lead to serious neurological problems such as seizures, visual field deficits, and sensory abnormalities.
The study was conducted on female patients in their 40s who visited Seoul National University Hospital. The patient visited the hospital with severe headache and vomiting, and an early brain MRI revealed an irregularly contrasted oncogenic lesion in the left occipital lobe, which led to a suspected brain tumor. The medical staff recommended surgery, but the patient refused treatment and was discharged from the hospital when his symptoms temporarily improved.
After 7 months, the patient again visited the hospital with severe headache and generalized seizures. Subsequent MRI confirmed that the lesion migrated from the left occipital lobe to the left parietal lobe, and this lesion migration became a representative diagnostic clue for Sparganosis.
The patient had a history of drinking contaminated pond water in the past, eating raw fish and uncooked wild animal meat, so the medical staff performed ELISA tests and stereotactic biopsies with parasitic infections in mind.
As a result, Sparganosis antibodies were detected in ELISA and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tests, and inflammatory granulomas were identified by stereotactic biopsy. We then successfully removed live Sparganosis larvae by craniotomy. During the operation, the parasite was recorded on video.
The research team emphasized that this case shows that Sparganosis infection can look like a tumor on MRI, and that rapid diagnosis and treatment are essential if parasitic infection is suspected.
Professor Baek Sun-ha (neurosurgery) at Seoul National University Hospital said, `Sparganosis is a very rare parasitic infection, but it can occur when contaminated water or undercooked food is consumed"Especially if the lesion moves in imaging tests, the possibility of parasitic infection must be considered, and personal hygiene rules, such as avoiding contaminated water and eating well-cooked meat or fish from wild animals, are key to prevention."
Professor Park Hye-ran (neurosurgery) of Soon Chun Hyang University Seoul Hospital said, `It is important to detect and treat Sparganosis infection early,' as a delay in treatment could permanently result in nerve damage caused by parasites" he warned.
The results of this study were published in the recent issue of the American Neurology Journal 'Neurology' and are considered important cases of early diagnosis and treatment of parasitic infections.
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This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
