What is the utility of postoperative antihelminthic therapy after resection for intraventricular neurocysticercosis?

BACKGROUND: Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is the most common worldwide parasitic infection of the central nervous system, and ventricular cysts are particularly problematic, carrying the risk of acute obstructive hydrocephalus. Herein, we present a typical case in which complete resection was possible and explore the evidence supporting the use of postoperative oral antihelminthic therapy.

METHODS: We performed a systematic review of the medical literature. Articles were included if they provided: 1) documentation of intraventricular disease, 2) discussion of management strategy, and 3) a presentation of outcomes. Available data were analyzed based on the primary therapy for NCC.

RESULTS: Data from 264 patients were abstracted from 32 references. Of all patients undergoing surgical resection of an isolated neurocysticercal cyst, 33.5% received postoperative antihelminthic therapy, most commonly albendazole. Among patients who had undergone surgical resection of a single intraventricular lesion (as was the case with our own patient), those who received postoperative antihelminthic therapy had a significantly lower risk of developing delayed hydrocephalus (18.8%, compared to 59.1% for those who received no medical therapy) (P = 0.02). The total mortality rate in our review was 3%.

CONCLUSIONS: This review produced surprising results: 1) the generous proportion of patients who underwent medical therapy as first-line treatment for intraventricular NCC (20.8%), and 2) the significant overall mortality. The data found in this review also provided for a strong consensus for the use of postresection antihelminthic therapy, and thus we elected to treat our index case with albendazole, assuming the risk to be low and the potential benefit meaningful.