An Uncommon Presentation of a Common Etiology : Tubercular Cerebral Abscess in Pulmonary TB

A patient, recently diagnosed with Pulmonary Tuberculosis and on ATT for the last 1 month, was initially admitted in a primary care setup with severe headache and altered consciousness for 5 days and then referred to our institute for further management. Extensive investigations and imaging led to the conclusion that the patient had a massive Tubercular Brain Abscess (TBA) in the background of Pulmonary TB

Role of imaging in CNS infections

Neuroinfections are seen in both adults and children. These can result in serious morbidity and if left untreated and/or associated with comorbidities can be life threatening. Cross-sectional imaging like computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are advised by the clinicians for the diagnosing, confirmation of the diagnosis, assess any complications of the infection, and also for follow up. Though CT is the initial imaging investigation commonly asked by the clinician, due to its lesser soft tissue resolution, early brain changes may not be seen on CT. MRI has better soft tissue resolution with no ionizing radiation to the patient and helps in detecting the early signs of infection. Appropriate MRI, not only helps the radiologist to reduce the number of possibilities of the causative organism but also differentiates tumors from infection. However, CT is useful to assess the bony changes and also easily available and affordable cross-sectional imaging modality worldwide. The review summarizes the approach of the radiologist to central nervous system (CNS) infections and their typical imaging characteristic features.

Multiple Brain Abscesses Secondary to Odontogenic Infection: A Clinical Case Report

Introduction Cerebral abscess is a suppurative infection of the cerebral parenchyma, which may occur due to contiguity, hematogenous dissemination of distant foci, secondary to open traumatic brain injuries, or be idiopathic. Clinical Case A 63-year-old male patient sought assistance due to a severe headache in the frontal region associated with chills and lack of appetite that started four days before. Clinical examination of the patient showed no significant changes. Imaging and laboratory tests on admission showed only nonspecific changes, such as leukocytes 18,540, platelets 517,000, and c-reactive protein 2,0. In such case,magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the skull was performed with contrast, showing the presence of expansive lesions compatible with multiple brain abscesses in the right parietooccipital region. Discussion After excluding the main focus of hematogenous dissemination and in view of the identification of the agent Streptococcus intermedius by means of secretion culture collected through a surgical method, the hypothesis of abscess due to contiguous dental pyogenic foci was pointed out. Conclusion Dental evaluation showed multiple foci of infection with periodontitis and dental abscess, which were treated along with the use of antibiotics directed to the etiologic agent.

Acute ptosis as a presentation of preseptal cellulitis leading to cerebral abscess in a patient with uncontrolled diabetes

@#Acute ptosis due to preseptal cellulitis requires urgent medical attention, as the infection can extend posteriorly into the orbit, leading to significant visual and cerebral complications. We report a case of a 58-year-old woman with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus presenting with acute ptosis due to preseptal cellulitis. After initial resolution of fever with intravenous amoxicillin-clavulanate, she experienced a seizure due to cerebral abscess a week later and was treated with intravenous ceftriaxone. Preseptal cellulitis is usually treated on an outpatient basis with oral antibiotics, as it rarely extends posteriorly to cause cerebral complications. We wish to highlight the importance of admitting patients with preseptal cellulitis in patients with uncontrolled diabetes for intravenous antibiotics due to the potential for visual and cerebral complications.

Cerebral abscess as a complication of a dental abscess

A dental abscess, most often caused by inadequate oral hygiene, can be easily treated if timely diagnosed. However, delay in treatment can lead to bacterial dissemination and serious complications, such as development of a cerebral abscess. Authors retrospectively analyzed a case of a 15-year-old boy admitted to our pediatrics department with a cerebral abscess due to a dental abscess. A 15-year-old patient presented with supra-orbital swelling which due to previous delay in dental treatment had caused dental, orbital and cerebral abscess formation. After extraction of the affected tooth and six weeks of IV antibiotics the size of the cerebral abscess was practically unchanged. An epidural drainage and further treatment with IV antibiotics were needed to eliminate the cerebral abscess. The urgency of dental treatment to inhibit further microbial spread is of great importance and delay can have serious consequences.

The imaging features of cerebral complications in patients with infective endocarditis / 实用放射学杂志

Objective To investigate the imaging features of the cerebral complications of infective endocarditis (IE)and the evolution process of infective cerebral infarction.Methods The clinical and imaging data from 5 patients diagnosed as IE with neurological complications were retrospectively and comprehensively reviewed,so that the imaging features of cerebral complications and infective cerebral infarctions were summarized.Results Among the 5 cases,3 showed multiple acute infarctions,including 2 massive ones.All the 5 cases showed multiple hemorrhagic lesions at different stages.The infarction and hemorrhage were mostly located at the corticalGmedullary junction.1 case of subarachnoid hemorrhage and 1 case of meningitis were also observed.Two massive infarctions mentioned above showed irregular patchy shape,which evolved into cerebral abscesses after 1 2 and 1 5 days of neurological symptoms showing up,then abscesses started shrinking after 33 and 3 1 days,respectively.Conclusion MRI can accurately reflect the features of cerebral complications of IE and the evolution process of infective cerebral infarctions,which provides evidences for physicians to make correct diagnoses and the treatment plans.

Absceso cerebral por Nocardia spp. en pacientes inmunocompetentes: presentación de 2 casos / Cerebral abscess by Nocardia spp. in immunocompetent patients: report of 2 cases

Nocardia corresponde a un género de bacterias gram positivo que puede producir compromiso pulmonar, sistémico y abscesos cerebrales, especialmente en pacientes inmunocomprometidos. La infección cerebral por Nocardia spp es extremadamente infrecuente en pacientes inmunocompetentes, por lo cual se reportan dos casos: caso 1: mujer de 61 años, sana, consulta por cefalea y paresia en hemicuerpo izquierdo. Estudio con TAC y RM de encéfalo demuestran absceso cerebral. Se inició tratamiento con ceftriaxona mas cloxacilina y fue drenado quirúrgicamente. En el cultivo del LCR se aisló Nocardia spp. cambiándose esquema a cotrimoxazol con meropenem por 6 semanas. Caso 2: varón de 72 años, hipertenso y tabáquico crónico. Consultó por cefalea, paresia de extremidad inferior derecha y pérdida de visión de ojo derecho. Estudio con TAC y RM de encéfalo objetiva absceso cerebral parietal izquierdo. Se inició tratamiento con ceftriaxona, metronidazol y vancomicina. Se realizó drenaje quirúrgico. El cultivo de absceso resultó positivo para Nocardia spp, ajustándose esquema a cotrimoxazol y meropenem por 6 semanas. Requirió tratamiento prolongado por presentar lenta regresión clínica e imagenoló- gica.

Nocardia is a gram positive bacterial genus. Is involved in pulmonary, systemic and brain abscess usually in immunocompromised patients. Nocardia spp. brain infection is extremely rare in immunocompetent patients, hereby we report 2 cases: case 1: 61 years old woman, without morbid conditions, consulted for headache and left hemiparesis. Study with CT and MRI of encephalon shows brain abscess. Treatment with ceftriaxone plus cloxacilin and surgical drainage were started. In CSF culture, Nocardia spp. was obtained. Scheme was changed to cotrimoxazole with meropenem to complete 6 weeks. Case 2: male of 72 years old, history of smoking and hypertension. Consulted for headache, paresis of right leg and loss of vision of the right eye. CT and MRI showed left parietal brain abscess. Treatment with ceftriaxone, metronidazole and vancomycin were started. Surgical drainage was performed. Abscess culture was positive for Nocardia spp., adjusting scheme to cotrimoxazole and meropenem for 6 weeks. It required prolonged treatment due to slow imaging and clinical regression.

A rare case of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) cerebral abscess secondary to conjunctivitis

This case report discusses the rare association of cerebral abscess related to conjunctivitis in an otherwise healthy child. A 6 year old boy presented with conjunctivitis was treated with topical antibiotics and resolved after a week. Conjunctival swab cultures grew MRSA. A month later he developed status epileptics and CT scans revealed a large cerebral abscess. He was treated with intravenous antibiotics which covered for MRSA, along with an incision and drainage for the cerebral abscess. Pus cultures grew MRSA. The patient recovered well with no disturbance in visual acuity or visual field. On post-operative follow ups, he had no other neurological deficit apart from a slight limp.

Nocardiosis cerebral parvosintomática, en pacientes inmunocomprometidos / Parvosymptomatic cerebral nocardiosis in immunocompromised patients

Antecedentes: La nocardiosis es originada por distintas cepas de Nocardia, bacterias Gram positivas que afecta a humanos y animales. Pueden producir infecciones sistémicas de ingreso cutáneo o pulmonar, que llegan a comprometer el Sistema Nervioso Central. Se afectan especialmente pacientes inmunosuprimidos que pueden desarrollar abscesos cerebrales, visibles en la Resonancia Magnética (RM), pero que no expresan síntomas de las lesiones focales o son parvosintomáticos. Pacientes y Método: Queremos comunicar dos mujeres con trasplante renal en tratamiento inmunosupresor, que desarrollaron cuadros pulmonares agudos que obligaron a su hospitalización, en cuyo contexto la paciente (A) presentó una convulsión y la (B) cefalea y compromiso de conciencia, que obligaron a una RM de cerebro. En ambos casos se encontraron múltiples abscesos cerebrales de distinta ubicación y tamaño que no habían dado síntomas focales. La nocardiosis se identificó en la paciente (A) con la biopsia de un micetoma cutáneo y en la (B) con la resolución quirúrgica de un absceso cerebeloso. En ambas se inició tratamiento específico con adecuada respuesta. Sin embargo, las reacciones adversas a la antibioterapia obligaron a suspenderla. Esta suspensión reactivó la infección que complicó y llevó al fallecimiento de las pacientes. Conclusiones: La publicación de varios casos de nocardiosis cerebral parvosintomática en pacientes inmunosuprimidos sugiere que para las infecciones cerebrales por Nocardia la pérdida de la inmunidad celular resulta muy significativa, porque permitiría el ingreso y proliferación de la bacteria al interior del SNC sin generar respuestas clínicas inmediatas. La aparición de síntomas se relacionaría con una tardía alteración de la barrera hematoencefálica, más que con el lento proceso lesional de la Nocardia. Lo que condicionaría su diagnóstico oportuno.

Background: Nocardiosis is caused by several strains of Nocardia, Gram-positive bacteria that infects humans and animals likewise. They develop a systemic infection of pulmonary or cutaneous origin that can spread to the Central Nervous System. It frequently affects immunosupresed patients, in which parvosymptomatic cerebral abscess has been described, visible in magnetic resonance imaging but without focal symptoms. Patients and Methods: We want to communicate two women with renal transplant in immunosupresor treatment who were admitted to our hospital for acute pulmonar disease, during which patient A presented a convulsive episode and patient B headache and stupor, after which CT and MR were obtained. In both cases multiple cerebral abscesses were found, of different sizes and location, with no clinical manifestations. Nocardia diagnosis was made in patient A by biopsy from a cutaneous mycetoma and in patient B after surgery of a cerebellar abscess. In both cases antimicrobial treatment was initiated with good response, but had to be interrupted due to adverse effects. This reactivated the infection, which had a complicated course and finally lead to the death of both patients. Conclusions: The fact that several cases of parvosymtomatic cerebral Nocardiosis in immunosupresed patients have been published suggest that cellular immunosupresion is key in the development of cerebral infections by Nocardia. It probably allows the access and multiplication of the bacteria inside the encephalon without an immediate clinical response. The development of symptoms is probably related to a late alteration of the blood-brain barrier rather than to the slow progression of Nocardia disease.

Isolated homonymous hemianopsia due to presumptive cerebral tubercular abscess as the initial manifestation of human immunodeficiency virus infection.

We report a case of isolated homonymous hemianopsia due to presumptive cerebral tubercular abscess as the initial manifestation of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. A 30-year-old man presented to our outpatient department with sudden loss of visibility in his left visual field. He had no other systemic symptoms. Perimetry showed left-sided incongruous homonymous hemianopsia denser above the horizontal meridian. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed irregular well-marginated lobulated lesions right temporo-occipital cerebral hemisphere and left high fronto-parietal cerebral hemisphere suggestive of brain tubercular abscess. Serological tests for HIV were reactive, and the patient was started only on anti-tubercular drugs with the presumptive diagnosis of cerebral tubercular abscess. Therapeutic response confirmed the diagnosis. Atypical ophthalmic manifestations may be the initial presenting feature in patients with HIV infection. This highlights the need for increased index of suspicion for HIV infection in young patients with atypical ophthalmic manifestations.

Cerebral Actinomycosis : Unusual Clinical and Radiological Findings of an Abscess

We report a case of cerebral actinomycosis in a 69-year-old immunocompetent woman. The patient showed a progressive worsened mental status for one week. MRI examination showed an increased size of multiple enhancing nodular lesions associated with mild perilesional edema. We performed an open biopsy for the right frontal enhancing lesion. The intraoperative finding showed a yellowish friable lesion that was not demarcated with normal tissue. Pathologically, an actinomycotic lesion with sulfur granules and inflammatory cells was diagnosed. We report an unusual case of diffuse involvement of cerebral actinomycosis. The presence of the uncapsulated friable lesion that consisted mainly of foamy macrophages and lymphocytes could explain the unusual radiological features.

Treatment Outcome of Superficial Cerebral Abscess: An Analysis of Two Surgical Methods

Background: The purpose of the study is to compare the two surgical methods (burr hole and craniotomy) used as treatment for superficial cerebral abscess and its outcome in terms of radiological clearance on brain CT, improvement of neurological status, the need for repeated surgery, and survival and morbidity at three months after surgery. This report is a retrospective case review of the patients who were treated surgically for superficial cerebral abscess in Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) and Hospital Sultanah Aminah (HSA) over a period of four years (2004 to 2007). Methods: Fifty-one cases were included in this study: 64.7% of patients were male and 35.5% were female. Most of the patients were Malay (70.6%); 28 patients (54.9%) had undergone craniotomy and excision of abscess, and the rest had undergone burr hole aspiration as their first surgical treatment. Results: This study reveals that patients who had undergone craniotomy and excision of abscess showed a significantly earlier improvement in neurological function, better radiological clearance and lower rate of re-surgery as compared to the burr hole aspiration group (P<0.05). However, with respect to neurological improvement at 3 months, morbidity and mortality, there is no significant difference between the two surgical methods. Conclusion: The significance of these findings can only be confirmed by a prospective randomised series. Further study will be required to assess the cost effectiveness, intensive care needs, and possibility of shorter antibiotic usage as compared to burr hole aspiration.

Absceso cerebral posquirúrgico causado por Propionibacterium acnes / Post-surgery cerebral abscess due to Propionibacterium acnes

Los abscesos cerebrales por Propionibacterium acnes son poco frecuentes. Es importante para el médico clínico la rápida identificación de este patógeno para la elección de una terapéutica antibiótica adecuada. En este caso se describe un paciente con una exéresis de un glioblastoma multiforme donde a los 9 meses se evidenció la existencia de una recidiva tumoral, se efectuó una extirpación tumoral subtotal y la colocación de implantes de quimioterapia en el lecho tumoral residual. Al cabo de un mes de esta reoperación presentó una lesión ocupante compatible con un absceso cerebral, motivo por el cual se realizó nueva craneotomía y drenaje del mismo. En los cultivos de las biopsias y del material purulento se aisló P. acnes como flora única. Para la identificación se realizaron pruebas bioquímicas y se aplicó el sistema API20A. Se determinó la concentración inhibitoria mínima (CIM) a clindamicina, penicilina, amoxicilina y metronidazol, los valores de CIM (ug/ml) obtenidos fueron: 0.250, 0.040, 0.023 y 256, respectivamente. El paciente recibió cefepime más metronidazol por vía endovenosa durante un período de 30 días y completó tratamiento con clindamicina por vía oral durante 60 días, dada la posible complicación ósea en el sitio de la infección. Luego de 8 meses de la intervención quirúrgica y el drenaje del absceso cerebral no hubo evidencia de signos clínicos de recidiva tumoral e infecciosa. P. acnes es un patógeno infrecuente como causal de abscesos cerebrales, sin embargo no se debe desestimar en muestras neuroquirúrgicas.

Brain abscesses by Propionibacterium acnes are rare. The rapid identification of this pathogen is important in order to choice the appropriate antibiotic therapy. We describe the case of a patient with excision of a multiform glioblastoma who 9 months later presented a tumor recurrence. A subtotal tumor excision was made and implants chemotherapy were placed in the residual tumor. After one month of surgery the patient presented a brain abscess. A craniotomy for drainage was performed. P. acnes was isolated from the biopsy and from purulent material. Identification was made by conventional biochemical tests and by the API system 20 A. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) to clindamycin, penicillin, amoxicillin and metronidazole was determined. The values of MIC (ug/ml) obtained were: 0.250, 0.040, 0.023 and 256, respectively. The patient received cefepime and metronidazole intravenously during 30 days and completed treatment with oral clindamycin for 60 days, considering the possibility of adjacent bone involvement. Eight months after the drainage the patient had no evidence of infection or tumor recurrence. Although P. acnes is a rare cause of post-neurosurgical infection, it should be considered as a possible pathogen in postoperative brain abscesses.

Successfully treated rare presentation of orbital melioidosis / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

·AIM: To report a rare case of melioidosis presenting as orbital abscess, who was successfully treated with highdose of intravenous ceftazidime.·METHODS; A case" report.·RESULTS; A 55-year-old Malay gentlemen who was newly diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, presented with prolonged low grade fever for three weeks and left eye swelling for five days duration. Initial CT scan of brain and orbit showed left periorbital cellulitis and acute left sphenoidal sinusitis. Initial swab culture grew Pseudo-monas sp. His general condition improved with regular antibiotics. However, upon completion of intravenous therapy his condition worsened and the left eye became more proptosed. Repeat CT scan of the brain and orbit showed left eye orbital abscess with intracranial exten? sion. Swab culture from fistula of the lateral part of upper eyelid showed Burkholderia pseudomallei. He was treated with high dose of intravenous ceftazidime, oral co-trimoxazole for the acute management and on maintenance dose of oral co-trimoxazole for 2 months. He responded well to treatment and had no relapse up to one year post treatment. Unfortunately his left eye vision was not salvageable.·CONCLUSION: This case illustrates a rare presentation of orbital abscess due to melioidosis which was complicated with cerebral abscess and septicemia. An accurate diagnosis was essential and high dose of susceptible antibiotics was important for the institution of therapy to successfully treat this potentially fatal condition.

A Case of Cerebral Abscess with Pulmonary Arteriovenous Fistula / 대한소아신경학회지

Pulmonary arteriovenous fistula is an uncommon capillary abnormality. It may be accompanied by neurological complications such as cerebral abscess and be associated with or without hemorrhagic telangiectasia. We recently experienced a case of cerebral abscess with pulmonary arteriovenous fistula(PAVF), which was not associated with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. We report this case with review of the related literature.

THE CLINICAL ANALYSIS OF 32 CASES OF CHILDREN SMALL CEREBRAL ABSCESS / 西安交通大学学报(医学版)

32 cases of children small cerebral abscess di-agnosed with CT scaning are reported. The maxi-mum diameter of the enhancement area was 2. 2cm. 29 cases did not give a history of infection. In30 cases, Epileptic seizures were usually the Initialand main symptoms, but local neurological signswere usually absent. All of the cases were treatedby antibiotic therapy. The duration of the therapyin most childhood patients was 2～3 months exceptthree who were over 3 months.