Neurocysticercosis: Fireflies in the Central Nervous System

Abstract

I read the recent publication on neurocysticercosis (Davidson 2010) with great interest. I would like share some ideas on this specific issue. Indeed, the problem of diagnosis of neurocysticercosis exists. The use of neuroimaging technique for diagnosis of neurocysticercosis is widely discussed. The use of entire body imaging is mentioned for usefulness but there are also several limitations (Wiwanitkit 2010). Based on the neuroimaging system, there are many neurological infections that might present mimicking pictures to neurocysticercosis and this is an important issue in diagnostic medicine in tropical setting (Wiwanitkit 2010, Gulati et al. 2010). An important point for differentiation of neurocysticercosis from other similar neurological infections is the history of the patient (ingestion of uncooked pork, poor toileting, and eating behavior). The use of neuroimaging technique for diagnosis of neurocysticercosis has to be accompanied with good history taking.