Stereotactic Endoscopic Removal of Cerebral Cysticercosis

Cysticercosis is the most frequent parasitosis of the central nervous system. Often medical treatment does not influence on ventricular or cisternal cysts or doesn't prevent the occurence of complications, such as hydrocephalus. So a considerable group of patients require surgical procedures, especially in cases of neural compression or intracranial hypertension or epilepsy. Recently stereotactic endoscopic removal of intraaxial small lesions using a stereotactic guiding tube and a fine endoscope was reported. We tried to control the symptomatic neurocy-sticercosis using the stereotatic endoscopic system.

We operated 4 cases of neurocysticercosis. Cerebrospinal fluid(CSF)analysis, enhanced com-puterized tomogram(CT) and magnetic resonance image(MRI) scan were performed. There were no specific findings in CSF analysis. CT and MRI scan showed single intraparenchymal lesion in 2 cases, one was cystic and the other was solid, multiple intraventricular cysts with obstructive hydrocephalus in 1 case and mixed type in 1 case. Seizures occured in all patients, partial sensory type in 3 cases who had reciprocal intraparenchymal lesion, generalized type in 1 case who had obstructive hydrocephalus by multple ventricular cysts.

For parenchymal lesions, we planned stereotactic open system endoscopic surgery with variable forceps, laser and suction. Cystic forms were removed successfully but in solid form additional transgyral microscopic removal was needed. In intraventricular lesions, we first placed stereotactic guiding tube via frontal burr hole, then replaced this to 14 Fr peelaway patheter. Through the peelaway catheter we inserted closed system endoscopy and removed the cysts with variable forceps and suctions. All intraparenchymal and intraventricular lesions were removed without specific complications except transient chemical meningitis in one case.

Stereotactic endoscopic surgery make it possible to operate cystic lesions without dege-neration(vesicular stage)wherever they locate.