Neurocysticercosis presenting as central diabetes insipidus in a boy

Abstract

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is known to have varied presentations ranging from simple psychosis to stroke and death. While NCC may affect any part of brain or spinal cord, endocrinopathies due to NCC involving hypothalamus and pituitary gland are very rare. A 7-year-old child presented with polyuria and polydipsia for 1 year. After ruling out peripheral diabetes insipidus, a magnetic resonance imaging scan of the brain was done which showed a small cystic lesion in the proximal pituitary stalk. Similar cystic lesions were also seen in other areas of the brain. Cerebrospinal fluid enzyme linked immunosorbent assay for cysticercosis was positive. Such a case of NCC involving pituitary stalk and presenting as central diabetes insipidus is, to the best of our knowledge, the first report of both the location and clinical presentation of NCC in children.

Keywords

Neurocysticercosis - diabetes insipidus - polyuria - pituitary