On the 30th, a joint research team led by Professor Baek Sun-ha of Seoul National University Hospital's neurosurgery and Professor Park Hye-ran of Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital's neurosurgery precisely diagnoses the lesions of a female patient in her 40s who visited Seoul National University Hospital due to a Sparganosis parasitic infection and successfully removes the living parasite through craniotomy. The photo shows the parasite removed during the surgery. /Courtesy of Seoul National University Hospital

Medical professionals in South Korea recently succeeded in treating an inflammatory brain lesion caused by a parasitic infection known as Sparganosis. They diagnosed the disease, which arose from larvae migrating to the brain, through precise examination and removed the larvae via surgery.

A research team led by Baek Seon-ha, a professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at Seoul National University Hospital, and Park Hye-ran, a professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, announced on the 30th that they had accurately diagnosed the lesions of a female patient in her 40s who visited Seoul National University Hospital due to a Sparganosis infection and successfully removed the living parasite through craniotomy. The findings of this study were published in Neurology, the journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Sparganosis is a rare parasitic infection that occurs when larvae infiltrate the body and migrate to the brain via the bloodstream. It typically arises from drinking contaminated water or consuming undercooked meat or fish. Although it's not common, it can also be transmitted through skin wounds.

When the infected parasite migrates to the brain, initial symptoms such as headaches and vomiting can appear, which may progress to severe neurological issues like seizures, visual field deficits, and sensory abnormalities over time.

This study was conducted on a female patient in her 40s who visited the hospital with severe headaches and vomiting. An MRI of the patient's brain revealed an irregularly enhancing tumorous lesion in the left occipital lobe, raising suspicion for a brain tumor. The medical staff recommended surgery, but the patient refused treatment and discharged herself after her symptoms temporarily improved.

However, seven months later, the patient returned to the hospital due to severe headaches and generalized seizures. The MRI taken at that time confirmed that the lesion had moved from the left occipital lobe to the left parietal lobe, which the research team explained is a typical diagnostic clue for Sparganosis.

It was confirmed that the patient had previously consumed contaminated pond water and had eaten raw fish and undercooked meat. Consequently, the medical team conducted an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test and a stereotactic biopsy keeping the possibility of parasitic infection in mind. The results showed the presence of Sparganosis antibodies in the patient, and the stereotactic biopsy revealed inflammatory granulomas.

The research team performed craniotomy on the patient and successfully removed the living Sparganosis larvae. The procedure captured video evidence of the parasite moving.

The research team emphasized that this case demonstrates how a Sparganosis infection can appear as a tumor on MRI and highlighted the necessity of prompt diagnosis and treatment when a parasitic infection is suspected.

Professor Baek Seon-ha noted, "When lesions move on imaging tests, the possibility of a parasitic infection must be considered. Adhering to personal hygiene practices, such as avoiding contaminated water and thoroughly cooking meat or fish from wild animals, is key to preventing Sparganosis."

Professor Baek Sun-ha of Seoul National University Hospital's neurosurgery (left) and Professor Park Hye-ran of Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital's neurosurgery.

Reference materials

Neurology (2024), DOI: www.doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000210219