Cysticercosis

Cysticercosis is a parasitic disease caused by infection with the tapeworms Taenia saginata and Taenia solium. The tapeworms use humans only as intermediate hosts and not as final hosts, which is why they store their eggs in different tissues. This results in the formation of the characteristic cysts in which the new tapeworms develop into fins, the larval stage. In principle, any tissue can be affected by cysticercosis, but the tapeworm prefers to use the subcutis, muscles, peritoneum, liver and brain. The treatment of the disease is usually by surgical resection of the cysts or chemotherapy to kill the fins.

Echinococcosis

The symptoms that can be caused by brain cysts are very variable. The number of brain cysts, their size and their exact localization are the most important factors. Possible symptoms are headaches, dizziness, nausea, seizures and disturbances of consciousness.

Brain cysts can also lead to motor failures, i.e. paralysis, coordination problems and difficulties in the sequence of movements. Brain cysts can also impair the sensitivity of various parts of the body. Last but not least, speech and visual disorders are also possible.

Brain cysts caused by parasites can also cause infection-related symptoms, such as fever, cough (in the case of lung infections) or a general feeling of illness and weakness. In addition, there is a risk of the cysts bursting when the tapeworms hatch and become too large. The parasites then enter the tissue freely and can cause severe allergic reactions up to allergic shock. Furthermore, the destruction of the cysts can leave cavities in which it can bleed into. In the case of heavy bleeding, this can also manifest itself as headaches, weakness, dizziness or circulatory failure.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of brain cysts can be made by imaging the brain using CT or MRI of the brain. If the patient has no symptoms caused by the brain cysts, these are usually a chance finding in the course of an otherwise arranged examination. If the brain cysts have been diagnosed, a subsequent neurological examination is absolutely necessary.

During this examination, the functions of the brain and spinal cord are checked. This is important in order to detect possible impairments caused by the brain cysts, which may have gone unnoticed until now. The doctor checks motor functions as well as the patient’s sensitivity and reflexes. A blood sample can also provide additional information about the cause of the brain cysts. In this way, certain inflammation parameters can be determined in the blood, which can be elevated, for example, in the case of infection-related brain cysts.