Intramedullary parasite eggs, latent for three decades, mimicking acute transverse myelitis

Background Intramedullary parasitic infection is extremely uncommon, and clinical presentation of Brown-Sequard syndrome is even rarer. Case presentation The authors report a case involving a 57-year-old woman with Brown-Sequard syndrome, in whom magnetic resonance imaging and clinical and epidemiological features were similar to those of acute transverse myelitis. Myelotomy suggested inflammation caused by latent parasite eggs in the spinal cord. Antiparasitic and steroid therapies were administered postoperatively. To the author’s knowledge, this is the first report to describe a surgical experience for Taenia solium eggs in the spinal cord. Conclusion Intramedullary parasitic infection is a diagnostic challenge that requires careful discrimination from other diseases. If parasite infection is suspected in a progressively deteriorating patient, myelotomy should be considered for rapid and accurate treatment.

Cervical epidural hematoma with Brown-Sequard syndrome caused by an epidural injection: a case report

Epidural hematoma with Brown-Sequard syndrome caused by an epidural injection is a rarely found condition in the emergency department (ED). We report an unusual case of Brown-Sequard syndrome in a 55-year-old man who presented at the ED with right-sided weakness and contralateral loss of pain and temperature sensation after a cervical epidural injection for shoulder pain. Cervicla spine magnetic resonance imaging showed an epidural hematoma from C4 to C6. After admission, his right hemiparesis and contralateral sensory loss improved within eight days, and surgical decompression was not required. Diagnosing spinal lesions in the ED is challenging, especially in patients with acute neurological signs requiring immediate evaluation for stroke. In this case, definite hemiparesis and some contralateral sensory loss were noted. Therefore, a potential spinal lesion was suspected rather than a stroke. This case emphasized the importance of conducting a focused neurological examination after history taking.

Pregnancy following Brown-Séquard syndrome: A rare case report

Brown-Séquard syndrome is an incomplete spinal cord lesion characterized by hemisection injury of the cord. We present a case of pregnancy, delivery and postpartum course following this rare neurological condition. A 42-year-old woman presented with past history of idiopathic hemicord myelitis leading to right sided hemiplegia with decreased contralateral sensation of pain and temperature, consistent with Brown-Séquard syndrome, which was treated with steroids and Therapeutic Plasma Exchange. Thereafter, she had near-complete motor recovery and complete sensory recovery over the next 3months. Three years later, she presented to us at 37+2 weeks of gestation with residual hemiparesis with motor power grade of 4/5 in right upper and lower limbs. She underwent Caesarean section for breech presentation, which was done under general anaesthesia in view of prior spinal cord lesion. She was discharged for follow-up in Neurology outpatient clinic and physical rehabilitation. At follow up after 12 months of delivery, she had complete motor and sensory recovery. Management of spinal cord lesions in pregnancy and delivery requires specialist multidisciplinary care due to risk of medical and obstetric complications. This case demonstrates a rare scenario of a primigravida at term gestation with residual deficits of a past spinal cord lesion.

Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament at the craniocervical junction presenting with Brown-Séquard syndrome: A case report

Background: Several case reports about spinal cord compression due to hyperostosis at the craniocervical junction are available. However, compression at C1-C2 solely due to ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) is rare. Case Description: A 50-year-old Asian male, with a history of lumbar spinal canal stenosis, presented with a progressive quadriparesis within 3 months. Imaging showed central OPLL at the C1-C2 level contributing to severe spinal cord compression. The patient improved neurologically after a C1-C2 laminectomy. Conclusion: A patient presented with a progressive Brown-Séquard syndrome due to OPLL at the craniocervical junction (C1-C2 level) and improved following a decompressive laminectomy.

Coexisting protruding osteocyte and arachnoid cyst mimicking spinal cord herniation in a patient with Brown Sequard syndrome

This 68-year-old man presented with progressive spastic paraparesis of 2-month duration. The diagnosis was Brown-Sequard syndrome(BSS). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed ventral displacement of the spinal cord at Th 7–8. The spinal cord deformity was dominant on the left side. He underwent surgery under the preoperative diagnosis of spinal cord herniation at Th 7–8. Intraoperatively we detected an arachnoid cyst and an osteophyte that compressed the spinal cord at Th 7–8 dorsally and ventrally rather than spinal cord herniation. Postoperative MRI showed successful spinal cord decompression. His neurological findings improved remarkably just after surgery. Although the misdiagnosis of spinal hernia in the actual presence of arachnoid cysts has been reported, ours is the first case of both, a lateralized osteophyte and an arachnoid cysts mimicking spinal cord herniation.

Idiopathic myelitis presenting as Brown-Séquard syndrome: two case reports and a review of the literature

Background Brown-Séquard syndrome often occurs in spinal cord injury, and few myelitis patients present with Brown-Séquard syndrome. Case presentation A 33-year-old Han man was admitted with neck pain plus numbness in the right limbs for 2 days and weakness in the left limbs for 1 day. Examination was significant for left limbs with grade 4 muscle power, positive left Babinski sign, diminished vibration sensation in the left limbs and decreased pain below the right clavicle dermatome. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cell count was 24 × 106/L, and the protein count was 185 mg/L. Cervical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) indicated abnormal swelling signals in the medulla-cervical cord long segment and enhanced signals in the C2-3 region. In the second case, a 47-year-old Han woman was admitted with weakness in the right lower limb and numbness in the left lower limb for more than 20 days. Examination was significant for the right lower limb with grade 4 muscle power, left knee hyperreflexia, positive left Babinski sign, diminished vibration sensation in the right lower limb and decreased pain below the right T2 dermatome. Cervical MRI indicated hyperintense and enhanced signals in the C7-T2 region. In these two cases, CSF culture, oligoclonal band (OB) and aquaporin 4 (AQP4) antibody were negative. Brain MRI was normal. Their symptoms and MRI results improved after treatment with methylprednisolone. Conclusions Myelitis can present as Brown-Séquard syndrome, providing an extended reference in terms of the differential diagnosis for clinical physicians.