A case of intradural sparganosis in the thoracolumbar junction

Sparganosis is a rare parasitic disease usually involving muscle and subcutaneous tissue. Man serves as an accidental intermediate host of sparganum, plerocercoid of spirometra subgenus. Spinal sparganosis is extremely rare, and only 4 cases have been reported in the literature. We describe a case of sparganosis affecting the intradural extramedullary space of the thoracolumbar junction. Myelography revealed an irregular intradural filling defect with complete block below the T-10 level. MRI showed a mild hyperintense lesion in the posterolateral portion of the intradural sac in T2WI and patchy enhancement on Gd-DTPA enhanced T1WI. The findings are consistent with granulation tissue related to sparganum. If there is a long segment involvement with a complete block at the cervicothoracic or thoracolumbar junction, no associated bony destruction, and a patient history of consuming snakes or frogs, sparganosis may be considered in the differential diagnosis