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. 2020 Dec 29;6(4):225–241. doi: 10.4103/bc.bc_48_20

Table 2.

Literature review of neurocysticercosis-associated movement disorder

Reference Country/Year n cases Age/sex Neuroimaging Follow-up Important CH and CM

Chorea
Pereira The UK/1903 1 6/female NA CR CH: Chorea. There was no suspicion of rheumatic fever. CM: Filix was used and in 1 month, the patient had a CR
Hodge The UK/1903 1 9/female NA NA CH: Chorea. CM: Filix was used
Galbraith South Africa/1904 1 10/male NA CR CH: Chorea induced by a tapeworm. Probably by Taenia solium. CM: the prescription of some herbals reduced the symptoms. Presence of hurt murmur. Maybe it is a case of Group B streptococcal infection. The author believed that the cause was related to the gastrointestinal infection
Brotto Brazil/1947 1 37/female Cranial X-ray No CH: Chorea. The individual presented with epilepsy. CM: The symptoms alleviated with sulfacetamide (Albucid)
Bickerstaff et al. The UK/1952 1 50/female Ventriculography Death CH: Chorea CM: Cyst excision
Bhigjee et al. South Africa/1987 1 15/female Multiple cysticerci, with some in the head of the right caudate nucleus and striatum No CH: Hemichorea+headache. CM: Haloperidol. The symptoms were alleviated
Joubert and Jenni South Africa/1990 1 NA NA NA CH: Chorea. From 88 patients with NCC, 1 developed chorea (1.1%). CM: PZQ
Bouldin and Pinter The USA/2006 1 11/male T2-weighted hyperintensity and Gd-enhancement in the M1 segment of the right middle cerebral artery. Arterial stenosis CR CH: Hemichorea. CM: Prednisone and aspirin. The symptoms recovered. The antiparasitic medication was not started to avoid increasing neurological damages
Cosentino et al. Peru/2006 1 22/female Visible hyperdense dot corresponding to the parasite scolex, cysts in multiple locations CR CH: Hemichorea, which was episodic, disappearing during sleep, and usually increasing with stress. CM: Dexamethasone and ALB. The symptoms recovered
Verma et al. India/2006 1 12/female A single ring-enhancing lesion with perifocal edema in the left thalamus NA CH: Hemichorea. CM: ALB, steroids, and haloperidol. The symptoms were alleviated
Balaji and Meikandan India/2011 1 NA NA NA Clinical and radiological findings of 58 South Indian children diagnosed with NCC
Dewan et al. India/2011 1 10/female Ring-enhancing lesion involving the right paramedian midbrain with mild perilesional edema NA CH: Generalized chorea. CM: Steroids, haloperidol, and ALB. She developed ICH, and mannitol was started. The symptoms improved
Venkatarathnamma et al. India/2013 1 25/male Multiple hypodense lesions with central hyperdensity in the parenchyma NA CH: Possible orofacial chorea. Phenytoin may be a confounding variable. CM: ALB, steroids, and sodium valproate. The symptoms improved
Costa et al Brazil/2016 1 12/male Multiple cysts (meninges, suprasellar, and prepontine areas) of cysticerci (racemose form); hydrocephalus CR CM: VPS was performed. Dexamethasone, ALB, and phenobarbital. The symptoms recovered
Yoganathan et al. India/2016 1 11/male Hyperintensity involving bilateral basal ganglia, thalami, substantia nigra, and hippocampi. There was a cysticercus in the right posterior temporal lobe with ring enhancement and perilesional edema NA CH: Orofacial DKN; possible chorea. Coinfection of Japanese encephalitis and NCC
Alarcón et al. Ecuador/2017 1 21/female Left thalamic cyst; right calcifications on putamen CR CH: Hemichorea. CM: ALB. The symptoms recovered
Gupta et al India/2019 1 60/female A peripheral ring-enhancing lesion with an eccentric nodule in the left frontal parasagittal region No CH: Hemichorea. CM: Haloperidol. The symptoms improved
Kumar et al India/2020 1 77/male Multiple cysts in the cortex, subcortex, and basal ganglia, with surrounding edema and calcified scars No CH: Hemichorea. CM: ALB and prednisolone. The symptoms improved

Tremor

Dixon and Smithers The UK/1935 1 24/NA NA NA CH: Localized tremor. It was a possible focal motor onset seizure with impaired consciousness
Scott et al. India/2005 1 1/male Ring-enhancing lesions in cortical, subcortical regions and also in the basal ganglia CR CH: Tremor involving the tongue and left upper and lower limbs. CM: ALB and corticosteroids. The symptoms recovered
Alarcón et al. Ecuador/2017 5 67/male Right frontal and right lenticular cysts and left caudate infarcts CR CH: Tremor involving the left upper limb. CM: ALB. The symptoms recovered.
63/female Left parietal cyst CR CH: Tremor involving the right upper and lower limbs. CM: ALB. The symptoms recovered
50/female Bilateral frontal, parietal, and temporal cysts, hydrocephalus CR CH: Bilateral tremor. CM: ALB. The symptoms recovered
35/male Cyst in right sylvian cistern and striatal cysts CR CH: Tremor involving the right upper limb. CM: ALB. The symptoms recovered
43/female Left temporal cyst and right lenticular and thalamic calcifications CR CH: Tremor involving the right upper limb. CM: ALB. The symptoms recovered
Campos et al Ecuador/2018 1 21/female Intraventricular cyst with scolex in the right lateral ventricle, and another cyst in the fourth ventricle NA CH: Cerebellar outflow tremor+ophthalmoparesis. Video recording. CM: steroids and ALB. The symptoms improved

Parkinsonism

Meyer Germany/1906 NA NA NA NA Racemose cysticercosis presenting as PKN quoted by Bickerstaff in 1952
Felici Italy/1938 NA NA NA NA Racemose cysticercosis presenting as PKN quoted by Bickerstaff in 1952
Brotto Brazil/1947 1 9/male Cranial X-ray NA CH: PKN+ICH
Assis and Tenuto Brazil/1948 1 38/female Ventriculography CR CH: PKN+ICH. Serum and CSF were positive to cysticercosis. CM: Surgical management of a giant cyst
Ronge et al Germany/1978 1 NA NA NA CH: PKN+temporal lobe epilepsy+psychiatric symptoms. There were parasites in the Sylvian fossa and bilateral necrosis of the pallidum
Takayanagui and Jardim Brazil/1983 2 NA NA NA CH: From 238 individuals with NCC, 2 developed PKN (0.4%)
Cavalcanti Brazil/1984 1 57/male Cranial X-ray normal. Cranial CT scan with basal ganglia calcifications NA CH: Isolated PKN. CM: Levodopa and PZQ
Takayanagui and Jardim Brazil/1990 1 NA NA NA CH: PKN+ICH. The patient presented with seizures. From 151 individuals with NCC, 1 developed PKN (0.66%)
Tansanee Thailand/1992 1 36/male NA NA CH: PKN in a racemose cysticercosis
Keane The USA/1995 4 32/female NA CR CH: PKN+ICH. CM: VPS
Keane conclude that the occurrence of PKN in a previously shunted patient suggests obstruction and requires prompt evaluation of the VPS 22/female NA CR CH: PKN+ICH. CM: VPS
28/female NA No CH: PKN+ICH. CM: VPS
32/male NA No CH: PKN+ICH. CM: VPS. Levodopa responsive
Verma et al. The USA/1995 1 31/female Multiple calcified and cystic lesions No CH: PKN+midbrain encephalitis. Video recording. CM: PZQ, dexamethasone, and phenytoin
Serrano-Dueñas and Placencia Ecuador/1999 1 66/male Obstructive hydrocephalus related to a fourth-ventricle cysticercus No CH: PKN+ICH. No levodopa response. CM: ALB and cyst removal
Mathew and Hassan India/2001 1 NA NA CR CH: reversible PKN
et al. Brazil/2004 2 32/female Hyperintensity over the cerebral aqueduct and the 4th ventricle in keeping with ependymitis No CH: PKN. History of VPS. CM: levodopa was started, and the symptoms were alleviated. ALB was started and allowed later reduction of levodopa dosage
30/male Multiple calcifications and hydrocephalus. Morphologic abnormalities of the quadrigeminal and ambient cisterns CR CH: PKN+ICH. CM: A VPS was performed. Levodopa and ALB. The patient symptoms recovered
Patel et al. India/2006 1 60/male Multiple cysticerci in various stages (vesicular and granular). Few of them were cystic with a scolex No CH: PKN+DTN. CM: levodopa and trihexyphenidyl. The symptoms alleviated
Suwatcharangkoon et al. Thailand/2006 1 NA/female Multiple cystic lesions and dilatation of the lateral ventricles NA CH: PKN+ICH. CM: ALB was started, and a VPS was performed. The symptoms alleviated
Garcia Ruiz et al. Spain/2008 1 29/female Hydrocephalus and hyperintensity over the cerebral aqueduct in keeping with ependymitis CR CH: PKN+ICH+blepharospasm. CM: ALB and levodopa. The PKN symptoms recovered. Botulinum toxin was started, and DTN recovered
Cabo López et al. Spain/2008 1 29/female NA NA CH: PKN+ICH. CM: VPS was performed. Cysticidal drugs and levodopa
Prashantha et al. India/2008 1 38/male Cystic lesion with scolex and T1 ring-enhancing granulomas in the fourth ventricle CR CH: PKN+ICH. CM: VPS was performed. Levodopa was started. Anti-parasitic drugs were not started. The symptoms recovered
Munhoz et al. Brazil/2009 2 43.1/2 male NA NA Case series of eight individuals with possible infectious PKN
Sharma et al. India/2011 1 64/male Multiple vesicular lesions in the cortex; dorsal midbrain and tegmentum of the midbrain No CH: progressive supranuclear palsy like+progressive cognitive decline. CM: dexamethasone and ALB. The symptoms did not improve
Lima et al. Brazil/2012 1 38/female Hydrocephalus because of an intraventricular cyst; edema in the midbrain periaqueductal region; ependymitis CR CH: PKN+ICH CM: VPS was performed. ALB was started and worsened the PKN symptoms. Methylprednisolone pulse therapy and levodopa. Surgical removal of the cyst. The symptoms recovered
Teive Brazil/2012 1 38/female Presence of supratentorial hydrocephalus with evidence of intraventricular cysts, as well as edema in the midbrain periaqueductal region CR CH: PKN+ICH. CM: Methylprednisolone and levodopa. The symptoms recovered
Verma et al India/2013 2 50/female Multiple cystic lesions with a mural nodule in bilateral basal ganglia Death CH: PKN+seizures. CM: ALB and steroids were started, which worsened the symptoms. The patient died due to ICH
43/male Multiple cysticerci lesions scattered within bilateral pallidum and putamen CR CH: PKN+seizures. CM: cysticidal drug and steroids. The symptoms resolved
Alarcón et al Ecuador/2017 15 47/female Temporal and right sylvian subarachnoid cysts, hydrocephalus No CH: PKN
56/female Right and left frontal cysts, bilateral sylvian and perimesencephalic cyst, hydrocephalus No CH: PKN+ICH
60/female Bilateral Sylvian, basal subarachnoid and perimesencephalic cysts, hydrocephalus No CH: PKN
44/female Left frontal cyst and calcification CR CH: PKN+seizure
65/male Bilateral frontal, parietal and occipital cysts, basal arachnoiditis, perimesencephalic and pontine subarachnoid cysts, hydrocephalus. No CH: PKN+ataxia+seizure
48/female Left frontoparietal cysts, hydrocephalus CR CH: PKN+seizure
42/male Perimesencephalic cysts, aqueductal ependymitis, and severe hydrocephalus CR CH: PKN+ataxia+seizure+ICH
62/male Bilateral subarachnoid sylvan cysts, perimesencephalic cysts, and cysts of the IV ventricle, hydrocephalus CR CH: PKN+ataxia+apraxia+ICH
73/female Tetraventricular hydrocephalus, hyperintensity of the aqueduct, subarachnoid cysts perimesencephalic No CH: PKN+ataxia
47/male Cyst IV ventricle, hydrocephalus, and ependymitis CR CH: PKN+ataxia+ICH
70/female Subarachnoid and parenchymal cysts, front right, in the ambient, pretectal and prepontine cistern, severe hydrocephalus CR CH: PKN+ICH
76/male Hydrocephalus, frontal and parietal left cysts, arachnoiditis. Midbrain and striatal infarcts No CH: PKN+ICH+possible MKM. Presence of hemifacial spasm
46/female Hydrocephalus, suprasellar, prepontine and ambient cysts, anterior interhemispheric fissure and right valley Sylvian, frontal and IV ventricle cyst No CH: PKN+ataxia+ICH
76/male Severe hydrocephalus; left frontal and parietal cysts No CH: PKN+apraxia+ICH
56/female Triventricular severe hydrocephalus, Sylvian and IV ventricle cysts frontal and parietal cysts rights No CH: PKN+ICH
Oliveira et al. Brazil/2020 1 59/female Cystic lesions in the subcortical region; scolex associated with perilesional hyperintensity (vesicular stage); hydrocephalus; transependymal resorption NA CH: PKN+ICH. CM: VPS was performed. The symptoms improved. ALB and PZQ

Myoclonus

Wie South Korea/1986 1 54/male Multiple intraparenchymal punctate calcifications including the left dentate nucleus NA CH: Palatal (subcortical) MCL. CM: PZQ and trihexyphenidyl
Puri et al. India/1991 1 11/female Multiple, round, low densities with peripheral enhancement and signs of meningeal inflammation CR CH: Multifocal MCL. Reflex response positive. EEG positive. ELISA in serum and CSF was positive for NCC. CM: valproate and PZQ. The symptoms recovered
Keane The USA/1993 1 29/male Several large prepontine cysticerci cysts No CH: oculopalatal MCL (subcortical) and short-cycle periodic alternating nystagmus. CM: Exploration of his posterior fossa with the removal of cysts
Gokhale et al. India/2015 1 8/male A lesion with mixed-signal intensity in left high frontal gyrus with perilesional edema CR CH: multifocal MCL (subcortical). EEG was normal. CM: ALB and prednisolone. The symptoms recovered

Ataxia

Ronge et al Germany/1978 1 NA NA NA Vestibular ataxia
Takayanagui and Jardim Brazil/1983 21 NA NA NA Ataxia. From 238 individuals with NCC, 21 presented with ataxia (4.2%)
Barinagarementeria et al. Mexico/1988 1 38/male A hypodense suprasellar mass, an ill-defined small area of low density was seen just above the right cerebral peduncle CR CH: Ataxic hemiparesis. ELISA and complement fixation tests were positive for NCC. CM: Prednisone. The symptoms recovered
Joubert and Jenni South Africa/1990 4 NA NA NA Ataxia. From 88 patients, 4 individuals had ataxia (5%)
Singh et al. India/1996 1 12/male Multiple ring lesions in the posterior fossa with a central nidus characteristic of NCC CR CH: Truncal and limb ataxia. CM: ALB and prednisolone
Jha et al. India/2006 1 10/male Multiple cysts in the cerebellar hemisphere No CH: Truncal and limb ataxia. CM: Valproate, glycerin, and acetazolamide. The symptoms alleviated
Teive et al. Brazil/2008 1 33/male The intense inflammatory reaction at the cysts located in the basal cisterns and around the brainstem NA CH: Truncal ataxia in an individual with racemose form of NCC
Balaji and Meikandan India/2011 1 NA NA NA Clinical and radiological findings of 58 South Indian children diagnosed with NCC
Sharma et al India/2015 1 17/female Multiple ring-enhancing lesions involving bilateral cerebral hemisphere, cerebellum and brain stem with ring-enhancing lesion NA CH: Ataxia+lateral rectus muscle of left eye impairment

Dystonia

Jiménez-Jiménez et al. Spain/1992 1 48/female Multiple cysts including some in the left thalamus, and a lacunar infarction in the right internal capsule area NA CH: Bilateral blepharospasm
Sawhney et al. India/1998 1 21/male Hypodense cysts in the internal globus pallidus, a ring-enhancing lesion in left corona radiata, bifrontal diffuse white matter edema CR CH: Unilateral DTN of upper and lower limbs. Previous history of complex partial seizures. CM: Steroids, anticonvulsants
Serrano-Dueñas and Placencia Ecuador/1999 2 60/male Hydrocephalus; hypo/hyperdense cystic lesions in the cerebral cortex and subcortical white matter without involvement the basal ganglia CR CH: Cervical DTN (retrocollis) + ICH. CM: VPS was performed and ALB was started
88/male Normal-pressure hydrocephalus No CH: Cervical DTN (retrocollis) + ICH. CM: Biperiden was withdrawal due to side effects. Clonazepam was started, but the symptoms did not ameliorate
Frei and Truong USA/2002 1 NA Several lesions including in the basal ganglia NA CH: Scalp DTN. The diagnosis was done when an EEG was performed and muscle artifacts were observed
Jha et al India/2006 1 6/male Multiple lesions in basal ganglia No CH: Unilateral DTN of the lower limb. CM: Levodopa and trihexyphenidyl. The symptoms improved
Patel et al India/2006 1 19/female Single, ring-enhancing granuloma in the right thalamic region (colloidal stage) No CH: Unilateral DTN of hand. CM: ALB and corticosteroids. The symptoms did not improve
Hamed and Metaal Saudi Arabia/2006 3 21/female Multiple lesions in the frontal, temporal, and temporoparietal regions NA CH: Possible DTN. CM: PZQ, dexamethasone, and carbamazepine. The symptoms improved
17/female Multiloculated cystic lesion deep in the white matter of the right parietal lobe. There was a small satellite cyst seen at the cortical aspect of the lesion (colloidal stage) CR CH: Unilateral DTN of upper and lower limbs. CM: PZQ, steroids, tiapridal (benzamide), and carbimazole. The symptoms resolved
19/female Single left parietal deep white matter multiloculated cystic lesion (colloidal stage) CR CH: Unilateral DTN of the upper limb. CM: PZQ and tiapridal (benzamide). The symptoms resolved
Yoganathan et al. India/2016 1 13/male Asymmetric areas of hyperintensity involving the frontal, temporal, parietal lobes, caudate, and thalami; NA CH: Meige like syndrome+PKN. Coinfection of Japanese encephalitis and NCC
cysticerci granulomas in the right cingulate gyrus and right inferior frontal gyrus; ring enhancement
Alarcón et al. Ecuador/2017 2 23/female Cyst in the left putamen CR CH: Unilateral DTN of the lower limb. CM: ALB. The symptoms recovered
37/female Bilateral putamen cysts CR CH: cervical DTN. CM: ALB. The symptoms recovered.

Myokymia

Keane The USA/1993 1 29/male Several cerebral cysticerci cysts in addition to obstructive hydrocephalus 2x CR CH: Facial MKM. EMG positive CM: Symptoms resolved following placement of a VPS. After 3 years, a problem with the shunt leads to the reappearance of the symptoms, which recovered after a new VPS
Beydoun The USA/1994 1 34/male Multiple cystic lesions with enhancing rims within the aqueduct and fourth ventricle No CH: Facial MKM. EMG positive. CM: Decadron, PZQ, and Dilantin. The symptoms alleviated
Gutierrez et al. Mexico/1998 1 69/female Subarachnoid cysticercus rostral to the pons CR CH: Possible facial MKM+ICH; described as hemifacial spasms. EMG was not performed. CM: VPS was done. Prednisone. The spasms disappeared 3 months after VPS
Bhatia et al. India/2008 1 45/male Ring enhancing lesions with surrounding edema on the right side of pons. Active degenerating (colloidal-vesicular) stage CR CH: Facial MKM. Video recording. CM: Clonazepam, prednisolone, and carbamazepine. The symptoms recovered
Razdan et al. India/2009 1 20/male Isointense ring lesion with an eccentric scolex with perilesional edema in the right posterior pons CR CH: Possible facial MKM; described as hemifacial spasms. CM: ALB and prednisolone. The symptoms recovered
Yang et al. Perú/2020 1 38/male Multiple cysts in the basal cisterns involving both cerebellopontine angle CR CH: Possible facial MKM, described as hemifacial spasm. Video recording. CM: VPS was performed. Gabapentin, dexamethasone, and ALB. Surgical decompression was performed, which recovered the symptoms

Ballism

Karnik et al. India/2011 1 11/female Scolex in the left thalamus No CH: Hemiballismus. CM: ALB and prednisolone. The symptoms improved

Tics

Anjana et al. India/2020 1 29/female Multiple focal discrete subcentimeter parenchymal ring-enhancing lesions in bilateral cerebral hemispheres with significant perilesional edema in bilateral frontal, right ganglion capsular, and left parietal regions No CH: Tics+psychosis. CM: Mannitol, steroids, ALB, and antipsychotics. The symptoms improved

Not clearly defined MDs

Wallenburg The UK/1928 NA NA Broughton-Alcock and others (1928) quote Wallenburg (no reference) as saying that automatic movements have been described
Cosentino et al. Peru/2002 NA NA To assess in 120 individuals with NCC, the frequency of basal ganglia location of lesions, and its clinical manifestations. Cysts or enhancing lesions in basal ganglia were found in 32 out of 120 cases (26.7%)
Alarcon Ecuador/2005 15 NA Report of 15 individuals with NCC who developed an MD
Echebarria Spain/2009 NA NA Assessment of CBFV and cerebrospinal fluid pressure in individuals with NCC who developed MDs. There was a correlation between CBFV and diagnostic criteria derived from 2/3 criteria established in NCC diagnosis
Sarangi et al India/2013 1 NA Report of a 10-year-old female who developed ataxia/DTN/apraxia of the hand. The case is not clear about the description of the neurological examination. CT: Isodense right posterior parietal lesion
Singh et al India/2015 1 NA Report of a 14-year-old male who developed involuntary jerk movements. These movements could be MCL, tremor, and DTN. The neurological examination is not clearly described

ALB: Albendazole, CH: Clinical history, CM: Clinical management, CR: Complete recovery, DKN: Dyskinesia, DTN: Dystonia, ICH: Intracranial hypertension, MCL: Myoclonus, MKM: Myokymia, NA: Not applicable/not available, NCC: Neurocysticercosis, PKN: Parkinsonism, PZQ: Praziquantel, VPS: Ventriculoperitoneal shunt, EEG: Electroencephalogram, ELISA: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, IV: Intravenous, CBFV: Cerebral blood flow velocity, CSF: Cerebrospinal fluid, CT: Computed tomography, MD: Movement disorder