INTERESTING IMAGES

An unusual wig
masquerading as

calcific
• •neurocysticercosis

A 26-year-old black
woman, who had been in-
volved in a motor vehicle ac-
cident, was referred for radio-
graphy of the skull (Figure 1).
X-rays did not demonstrate
any signs of bony injury, but
did reveal multiple rounded
opacities related to the cranial
vault, initially thought possi-
bly to be due to calcific
neurocysticercosis or alterna-
tively multiple sclerotic bony

WFC van Gelderen
FFRad(D)(SA)

Consultant Radiologist. Taranaki Base Hospital,
New Zealand

Figure 1: Lateral radiograph of the skull demonstrating multiple
small opacities simulating calcific neurocysticercosis but due to
tufts of hair within 8 wig seen end-on.metastases.

When the patient was examined
clinically by the reporting radiologist,
she was found to be wearing a most
impressive and very realistic black wig
with strands of hair woven around

small hooks within the confines of the
wig. These small hooks, containing
tight knots of hair, were responsible
for the multiple cranial opacities
when seen end-on.

AMA/PRA Category 1 Accredited Course
Category A CE (ASRT) Accredited Course

1999 CMRS Annual Society MeetingClinical
Magnetic

Resonance
Society

DATE: June 24-27, 1999
VENUE: Disney's Yacht & Beach Club
Resorts. Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA
TOPIC: Clinical Magnetic Resonance
Imaging
ATTENDEES: Physicians and
Radiologic Technologists
TECHNICAL EXHffiITS

CONTACT:
Caren Theuring
Clinical Magnetic Resonance Society
800-823-2677,513-221-0070
Fax:513-221-0825
Email: cmrs@one.net

36 SA JOURNAL OF RADIOLOGY. November 1998

mailto:cmrs@one.net