Fourth ventricle neurocysticercosis presenting with Bruns' syndrome: A case report

Abstract

Background: Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is the most common helminthic infection of the central nervous system. We present a case of the fourth ventricle NCC that presented with Bruns' syndrome (with headaches worsened by head movements, gait ataxia, and vomiting) and the operative technique used for cyst removal. Case Description: A 39-year-old woman was admitted to the emergency department with moderate-to-severe headaches that got worse in the afternoon and were triggered by head movements, relieved on prone position, and were associated with gait ataxia and vomiting. A brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a fourth ventricle cyst, with an eccentric enhancing nodule compatible with a larvae scolex and associated obstructive hydrocephalus. The patient was positioned prone and underwent a microsurgical resection of the cyst without rupture through a telovelar approach to the fourth ventricle. The postoperative MRI confirmed complete cyst removal and resolution of the hydrocephalus. At 12-month follow-up, the patient remains with no signs of disease recurrence. Conclusion: In this report, we depict a case of intraventricular NCC successfully treated with a single surgery, allowing intact cyst removal and achieving effective hydrocephalus treatment with no need to resort to cerebrospinal fluid diversion techniques.