Neurocysticercosis on CT and MRI: The Hidden Parasitic Brain Disease Every Radiologist Should Recognize
Neurocysticercosis: A Radiologic Diagnosis Hidden in Plain Sight Neurocysticercosis remains one of the most fascinating yet underrecognized infectious diseases encountered in modern medical imaging. Despite being the most common parasitic infection of the central nervous system worldwide, it is frequently overlooked in emergency diagnosis, especially in non-endemic countries. For radiologists, neurologists, emergency physicians, and clinicians involved in CT scan diagnosis or MRI interpretation, neurocysticercosis represents a critical differential diagnosis in patients presenting with seizures, chronic headaches, cognitive decline, or unexplained intracranial lesions. The disease can mimic tumors, metastases, encephalitis, tuberculosis, or autoimmune disorders. In many cases, imaging becomes the decisive factor that saves the patient from misdiagnosis and unnecessary surgery. This article explores the pathophysiology, epidemiology, imaging findings, differential diagnosis, treatment, ...