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Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology 19(2):p 242-246, April - June 2026. | DOI: 10.21088/ijfmp.0974.3383.19226.17
Case Report
Neurocysticercosis as an Unrecognized Cause of Sudden Death: A CaseBased Study
Arjun T, Mohamed Izran, Ganesh Rajahan, Sneha S., Venkatesan M., Priyadarshee Pradhan
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Attribution-Non-commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology 19(2):p 242-246, April - June 2026. | DOI: 10.21088/ijfmp.0974.3383.19226.17
How Cite This Article:
Mohamed Izran, Ganesh Rajahan, Sneha S. Venkatesan M., et al. Neurocysticercosis as an Unrecognized Cause of Sudden Death: A Case-Based Study. Indian J Forensic Med Pathol. 2026; 19(2): 242-246Timeline
Received : March 11, 2026
Accepted : May 14, 2026
Published : June 30, 2026
Abstract
Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a leading global cause of adult-onset epilepsy and the most common parasitic infection of the central nervous system. It is caused by the larval stage of the pork tapeworm, Taenia solium, which encysts in the brain after the ingestion of eggs. While often presenting with chronic symptoms, NCC can lead to sudden, unexpected death through acute neurological or cardiac complications. Forensic awareness and a high index of suspicion are critical for identifying subclinical infections in at-risk populations. This case is based on a 43-year-old male who had multiple episodes of seizure for which he was brought to a tertiary care hospital, where he was declared brought dead. This case highlights the significance of conducting a comprehensive medicolegal death investigation, which involves interviews with relatives and a complete forensic autopsy to establish the cause and manner of death
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Data Sharing Statement
There are no additional data available. All raw data and code are available upon request.
Funding
This research received no funding.
Author Contributions
All authors contributed significantly to the work and approve its publication.
Ethics Declaration
This article does not involve any human or animal subjects, and therefore does not require ethics approval.
Acknowledgements
We would like to express our gratitude to the patients, their families, and all those who have contributed to this study.
Conflicts of Interest
No conflicts of interest in this work.
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Cite this article
Mohamed Izran, Ganesh Rajahan, Sneha S. Venkatesan M., et al. Neurocysticercosis as an Unrecognized Cause of Sudden Death: A Case-Based Study. Indian J Forensic Med Pathol. 2026; 19(2): 242-246
Licence:
Attribution-Non-commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
| Received | Accepted | Published |
|---|---|---|
| March 11, 2026 | May 14, 2026 | June 30, 2026 |
DOI: 10.21088/ijfmp.0974.3383.19226.17
Keywords
Sudden deathNeurocysticercosisTaenia soliumBrain stem dysfunctionCerebral edemaSearch for Similar Articles
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Timeline
| Received | March 11, 2026 |
| Accepted | May 14, 2026 |
| Published | June 30, 2026 |
licence
Attribution-Non-commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)
This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
