A 30-year-old man from a rural area presents with new-onset generalized tonic-clonic seizures. MRI brain shows multiple small, well-defined cystic lesions with eccentric scolex, some showing ring enhancement. He has no immunosuppression. The most likely causative organism is:

• A Echinococcus granulosus
• B Taenia solium (cysticercus cellulosae) ✓
• C Toxoplasma gondii
• D Entamoeba histolytica

Explanation

Neurocysticercosis, caused by the larval stage of Taenia solium (cysticercus cellulosae), is the most common cause of acquired epilepsy in endemic regions including India. The eccentric scolex within a cyst is pathognomonic. Echinococcus causes larger hydatid cysts without scolex. Toxoplasma causes ring-enhancing lesions in immunocompromised patients. Entamoeba rarely involves the CNS.

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.