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HydroCoils are platinum helical coils coated with a layer of hydrophilic acrylic polymer (hydrogel), which on contact with blood causes disentanglement of polymer chains and expansion. We retrospectively reviewed a series of 29 patients harboring 29 cerebral aneurysms treated with the Hydrocoil Embolic System in the period 2004–2005, discussing the results of endovascular procedures in terms of safety and efficacy. The immediate post-procedure angiographic control demonstrated complete aneurysm occlusion in 21 cases (72.4%), near-complete occlusion in seven cases (24.1%), whereas in one case (3.4%) there was a procedure failure with major perfusion of the sac. Five patients (17.2%) experienced thromboembolic complications, including an asymptomatic lacunar stroke of the head of the caudate nucleus, a thalamic infarct following hypotension secondary to pulmonary edema, temporal ischemia secondary to vasospasm and a small right occipital ischemic lesion. Only one patient (3.4%) suffered a major ischemic accident. No other procedure-related complication occurred. Three-month follow-up control with MR angiography and 12-month follow-up angiography demonstrated no recurrence of aneurysms. Overall, after a mean follow-up of 12 months, the clinical outcome was good recovery in 26 patients (89.6%), moderate disability in three patients (10.3%) and no vegetative status or death. Our HydroCoil series supports the safety and midterm durability of hydrogel-coated aneurysm coils in the treatment of cerebral aneurysms.

In the present review we report a case of a 53-year-old woman affected with a cyst solitary cerebral hemispheric lesion causing acute generalized seizure. Clinical and neuroradiologic diagnosis of cystic astrocytoma was performed and the patient was operated. Microscopic analysis of the surgical specimen led to a diagnosis of parasitic infection, consistent with neurocysticercosis (NCC). NCC is the most frequent parasitosis of the central nervous system (CNS) in the world. The infective agent is taenia solium larvae. It is endemic in Latin America, Africa and some Asiatic countries, such as India. In Europe, many cases have been reported in Portugal, Spain, Poland and Romania. In Italy NCC is a rare disease. In recent years no cases have been described, but with high rate of immigration from endemic areas (Africa and East Europe) this parasitosis will be found in our country too, particularly affecting communities where hygienic conditions are poor. In conclusion we briefly analyze the relationship between pathogenesis of this parasitosis and its clinical symptoms.