General Spine

L E Pack, MD MPH,
Joshua M Ng, MD, Non ASSR Member
Cathyrn M Christensen, MD, Non ASSR Member
Karen J Bos, MD, Non ASSR Member
Stephen R Baker, MD, Non ASSR Member

Excerpta Extraordinaire

Mentor Award: No

Institution where work was conducted

University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School University Hospital /

Affiliation and Department

UMDNJ NJMS, Dept. of Radiology

Address

150 Bergen St
C320, Dept of Radiology
Newark, New Jersey
7103
Phone: 973-769-3813
Email: ellie.pack@gmail.com

Excerpta

We report a case of a 24 year old Brazilian immigrant who presented to the emergency department of Cambridge Hospital, in Cambridge, Massachusetts with the rapid development of weakness and pain in his legs, progressing to numbness below the knees. An MR examination of the thoracolumbar spine revealed a discrete spinal cord tumefaction expanding the conus medullaris. After a serum serology test was positive for Schistosoma mansoni he was successfully treated with Praziquantal and Dexamethasone and experienced a full resolution of symptoms over several weeks.

Schistosoma myeloradiculopathy can simulate a spinal cord neoplasm by both physical examination and imaging studies. It is a well recorded complication of Schistosoma infestation in enzootic regions of eastern Brazil. With increasing migration to the United States from Brazil and the expansion of domestic and foreign tourism to affected areas in that country, Schistosoma myeloradiculopathy will be encountered with increasing frequency in North America where its manifestations as an acute or sub acute paraparesis if not frank paraplegia, will likely occasion initial presentation to an emergency facility.

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