Case report: Magnetic resonance tracing reveals migratory patterns of cerebral sparganosis mansoni in a child with corpus callosum invasion

Abstract

Abstract Background: Parasitic invasion of the corpus callosum is a rare occurrence in cerebral sparganosis mansoni. After the parasite invades the corpus callosum, it can take various trajectories, and can break through the ependyma and enter the ventricles, which may cause secondary migration and worsen brain damage. Case presentation: A girl, 4 years and 7 months of age, presented with left lower limb paralysis lasting more than 50 days. Blood examination showed that the proportion and absolute number of eosinophils in the peripheral blood were increased, and ELISA of serum and cerebrospinal fluid samples revealed the presence IgG and IgM antibodies to Sparganum mansoni. The initial MRI in our hospital showed knot-like enhancement in the right frontoparietal cortex, subcortical white matter, and splenium of the corpus callosum. Within 2 months, MRI showed that the lesion had spread to the left parietal cortex and subcortical white matter, as well as the deep white matter in the right occipital lobe and right ventricular choroid plexus, combined with left parietal leptomeningeal enhancement. Conclusion: Migratory movements in the brain are characteristic of Spirometra mansoni larvae. When worms invade the corpus callosum, clinicians should be vigilant that they do not break through the ependyma and enter the lateral ventricles, to reduce the risk of secondary migratory brain injury. Short-term MRI follow-up can help evaluate the trajectory of worms and dynamically guide treatment strategies.