SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Neurocysticercosis as an Unexpected Cause of Seizures in a Vegetarian Patient

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This case report highlights neurocysticercosis as an uncommon but important cause of new-onset seizures in the United States. The patient was a woman in her 30s with hypothyroidism who presented with altered mental status, intermittent staring spells, confusion, and nonsensical speech for one week. Head CT showed a lesion in the posterior left temporal lobe with surrounding vasogenic edema. During hospitalization, she developed multiple seizures and progressed to status epilepticus, requiring intubation for airway protection.<br /><br />Brain MRI revealed a left temporal rim-enhancing lesion suspicious for neurocysticercosis. Further testing confirmed the diagnosis with positive Taenia solium IgG. Although she was a vegetarian and reported no pork consumption, she had moved to the United States from India one year earlier, suggesting exposure in an endemic region or through contaminated food or water rather than pork ingestion alone.<br /><br />She was treated successfully with a 14-day course of albendazole and corticosteroids for cerebral edema. She recovered without persistent neurological deficits.<br /><br />The report emphasizes that neurocysticercosis should be considered in patients with seizures and brain lesions, especially immigrants or travelers from endemic areas. While undercooked pork is a common source, infection can also occur through contaminated produce, water, or contact with a tapeworm carrier. Because the incubation period can be long, identifying the source is often difficult. Early recognition is critical because the disease is treatable, but delayed diagnosis can lead to severe complications such as status epilepticus.

Asset Subtitle

Katarzyna M. Purzycka

Meta Tag

Author List Katarzyna M. Purzycka, Kyle Rau, Lara Hakim, Melanie Mrozek, Robert Ocomen

Category Clinical Vignettes

Concept Neurocysticercosis

Concept Seizure

Concept Epilepsy

Concept Rim-enhancing brain lesion

Concept Taenia solium

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization Corewell Health West

Presenting Author Katarzyna M. Purzycka

Track Adult

Keywords

neurocysticercosis

seizures

status epilepticus

brain lesion

rim-enhancing lesion

Taenia solium

albendazole

corticosteroids

vasogenic edema

endemic regions

Neurocysticercosis

Seizure

Epilepsy

Rim-enhancing brain lesion

Taenia solium