Neurocysticercosis as Solitary Parenchymal Lesion Confirmed by Mitochondrial Deoxyribonucleic Acid Sequence Analysis

—Case Report—

Abstract

A 38-year-old Japanese woman presented with neurocysticercosis manifesting as mild hemiparesis. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with gadolinium showed a solitary parenchymal lesion. MR spectroscopy of the mass showed a relatively low N-acetylaspartate peak. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of the patient’s cerebrospinal fluid using antibodies against several parasite antigens was negative. Surgical resection of the lesion was performed. The histological findings showed the possibility of parasitic infection such as neurocysticercosis, although the definitive type of parasite was not confirmed. Sequencing of cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene of mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid indicated the Asian genotype of Taenia solium. We propose that these new diagnostic techniques should be used more widely, especially for solitary lesions of neurocysticercosis.