A 12-year-old boy from a rural area presents with new-onset focal seizures. CT shows multiple small calcified cortical lesions without edema or enhancement. He eats undercooked pork occasionally. Serology is positive for antibodies against Taenia solium larvae. The most likely diagnosis is:

• A Tuberculomas
• B Neurocysticercosis, calcified stage ✓
• C Congenital TORCH infection with intracranial calcification
• D Sturge-Weber syndrome

Explanation

Neurocysticercosis is the most common parasitic infection of the CNS worldwide and a leading cause of acquired epilepsy in endemic regions like India. Ingested Taenia solium eggs release oncospheres that hematogenously seed the brain, forming cysticerci that eventually degenerate and calcify. Multiple small calcified cortical lesions without edema indicate inactive calcified disease. Tuberculomas usually show ring enhancement, and Sturge-Weber gives gyriform tram-track calcification.

Reference: Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, 10th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.