Gait and cognitive disorders revealing massive neurocysticercosis: a case report

Abstract

Neurocysticercosis is frequent in Madagascar. Its clinical presentations depends on the topography of the lesions. We report a case with gait and cognitive disorders. A 49-year-old man, right-handed, with progressive gait disorders (small steps with magnetization). On examination, he had gait disorders, associated with frontal syndrome with Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) scale of 10/18, a Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) scale of 24/30, a constructive apraxia and a clock test disturbance. The brain CT scan showed massive lesions of fronto-parietal and temporal neurocysticercosis, meningeal neurocysticercosis with racemose forms. Lesions had different ages associated with a communicating hydrocephalus. Gait disturbance and cognitive function were improved after an evacuating lumbar puncture and cysticidal treatments. This case illustrate the importance of neurological examination in a patient with neurocysticercosis. Neurocysticercosis could be a curable cause of dementia.