Neurocysticercosis mimicking cystic brain metastasis in a patient with lung cancer: a diagnostic pitfall

Neurocysticercosis mimicking cystic brain metastasis in a patient with lung cancer: a diagnostic pitfall | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Case Report Neurocysticercosis mimicking cystic brain metastasis in a patient with lung cancer: a diagnostic pitfall Xiaopeng Li, Yan Shen, Xianghong Zhang, Xiaohui Li, Xiaodong zhang, and 1 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8825738/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 7 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract The coexistence of neurocysticercosis (NCC) and lung cancer in the same individual is relatively rare. Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) has a high risk of central nervous system metastasis. In the context of lung malignancies, the presence of multiple intracranial cystic lesions is often prioritized as brain metastasis. However, NCC can be highly mimicked by cystic brain metastases (CBM) on imaging, posing a significant diagnostic pitfall and potentially leading to unnecessary radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and delaying anti-cysticercosis treatment. We report a 71-year-old male patient with cognitive dysfunction as the initial symptom. Imaging showed a huge cystic brain lesion, and pathology confirmed the coexistence of NCC and lung mucinous adenocarcinoma (LMA), and a 58-month follow-up was completed. The patient ultimately died of leptomeningeal metastasis of lung cancer. This case suggests that when brain cystic lesions occur in tumor patients, infectious causes should be fully considered to avoid making treatment decisions solely based on imaging. Neurocysticercosis Lung adenocarcinoma brain metastasis diagnostic pitfall mimicking Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Reviews received at journal 15 Apr, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 02 Apr, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 23 Mar, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 15 Mar, 2026 Editor invited by journal 16 Feb, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 14 Feb, 2026 First submitted to journal 14 Feb, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8825738","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Case Report","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":610843600,"identity":"f18ba9f7-e800-4c33-9499-5955441c794c","order_by":0,"name":"Xiaopeng Li","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Xiaopeng","middleName":"","lastName":"Li","suffix":""},{"id":610843601,"identity":"468b80e2-e2db-4fc9-a79d-60859f88dd11","order_by":1,"name":"Yan Shen","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, 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