Disseminated cysticercosis in a non-endemic area of Europe: diagnostic challenges and successful management of an unusual parasitic infection.

Abstract

Cysticercosis caused by the larval forms of Taenia solium is observed sporadically in humans from nonendemic areas and is challenging to diagnose. We report an extraordinary case of 81-year-old woman from a rural region of Poland with worsening neurological symptoms suspected of brain malignancy. Imaging and serological tests confirmed disseminated cysticercosis with multiple space-occupying lesions located in the brain, soft tissues, and liver. Systemic cysticercosis in a white woman without a history of international travel is an exceptional clinical finding. Treatment with albendazole and corticosteroids led to significant reduction of pathological masses and clinical improvement. This case highlights the importance of considering unusual parasitic infections in neurological evaluations, even in non-endemic areas.