Intracranial calcification suggestive of neurocysticercosis in cranial computed tomography scan
relationship with different clinical conditions
Keywords:
Epilepsy, Neurocysticercosis, Tomography computedAbstract
Objective
The objective of this study was to assess the occurrence of intracranial calcification
suggestive of neurocysticercosis in cranial computed tomography and study its
relationship with clinical data.
Methods
A total of 978 consecutive cranial computed tomographies were analyzed and the
occurrence of intracranial calcification suggestive of neurocysticercosis and its
relationship with clinical aspects were studied.
Results
There was a statistically significant greater number of intracranial calcification cases
suggestive of neurocysticercosis as age increased. A higher percentage of intracranial
calcification cases suggestive of neurocysticercosis was found in patients with epilepsy
(16.6%) than in those with stroke, head injury, brain tumor, subarachnoidal hemorrhage,
bruising, neuromotor development delay or mental retardation (7.3%), and also in
those with other diagnostics (9.8%). The analysis evidenced that roughly 7.0% of the
patients may present intracranial calcifications suggestive of neurocysticercosis without
a causal relationship with the clinical diagnosis. However, in a considerable number of
cases of epilepsy, there can be an etiological relationship with neurocysticercosis.
Conclusion
When intracranial calcification suggestive of neurocysticercosis is found in a patient,
good practice requires that this finding be analyzed carefully, together with its clinical
aspects
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