Management and Outcome of a Neurologically Intact Infant with Pierre Robin Sequence and Dandy-Walker Variant Diagnosed with Large Hemispheric Brain Abscess ­ Case Report

Pierre Robin sequence (PRS) is a condition consisting of three essential components: micrognathia or retrognathia, cleft palate, and glossoptosis. It can be part of multiple congenital anomalies. We present the case and outcome of a 3-month-old clinically stable patient who has PRS with Dandy-Walker variant ­ which is a rare presentation in the literature ­ with a large right hemispheric brain abscess, treated with multiple minimally-invasive surgical drainage procedures with adjuvant antibiotics.

Multiple Brain Abscesses by an Air Gun Shot: A Case Report

Introduction Low-velocity penetrating brain injury is not prevalent. In some conditions such as childhood, and with the penetration of a pellet in weak spots of skull, low-velocity penetrating brain injury is expected; however, high-velocity projectiles have also been reported as the cause of severe brain injuries. One of the complications of penetrating brain injury is infection, in which different types ofmicroorganisms play a role. The Streptococcus genus is the leading cause of abscess formation in nontraumatic patients. Multiple brain abscesses are not common. Case Presentation A 10-year-old boy with penetrating brain injury caused by an air gun pellet, who developed signs and symptoms of high intracranial pressure 18 days after the trauma. After the imaging scans and the detection of multiple brain abscesses and severe brain edema, prompt surgical intervention was performed for all three lesions in a single operation. The culture of a pus specimen was positive for Streptococcus species, and, with adequate antibiotic therapy, the patient was discharged from the hospital in good condition. Conclusion Brain injurywith air gun shot is not prevalent. The penetration of a low-velocity air gun pellet in weak points of the skull (such as the orbit, the squamous portion of the temporal bone, and the cranial suture), specially in children, can cause significant brain injuries.

Brain Abscess Caused by Nocardia: Case Report and Literature Review

Nocardia brain abscess is a rare clinical entity, accounting for 2% of all brain abscesses, associated with high morbidity and amortality rate 3 times higher than brain abscesses caused by other bacteria. Proper investigation and treatment, characterized by a longterm antibiotic therapy, play an important role on the outcome of the patient. The authors describe a case of a patient without neurological comorbidities who developed clinical signs of right occipital lobe impairment and seizures, whose investigation demonstrated brain abscess caused by Nocardia spp. The patient was treated surgically followed by antibiotic therapy with a great outcome after 1 year of follow-up.

Brain Abscess and Esophageal Dilatation: Where is the Link? ­ Case Report

Introduction Caustic substance ingestion is a common cause of esophageal stricture in children. The primary treatment is esophageal dilatation. Although it is known that endoscopic esophageal dilatation is a procedure associated with a high rate of bacteremia, current guidelines do not recommend routine throat swab cultures or antibiotic prophylaxis for the general children population. Case Report We describe a case of a 7-year-old boy presenting with refractory headaches who was diagnosed with cranial abscess after multiple esophageal dilatations due to stenosis caused by caustic soda ingestion. The patient was subjected to neurosurgical intervention and intravenous antibiotic treatment for 6 weeks. Streptococcus viridans culture was positive in purulent abscess content. Conclusion We highlight this condition that, although rare, needs immediate diagnosis and proper treatment. We also recommend routine testing of throat swabs and antibiotics prophylaxis to children undergoing esophageal dilatation.

Absceso cerebral múltiple del lóbulo temporal derecho, reporte de un caso / Multiple brain abscess of the right temporary lobe, report of a case

RESUMEN El absceso cerebral es un proceso infeccioso focal del parénquima cerebral. Se inicia con un área localizada de cerebritis y progresa a una colección de pus rodeada por una cápsula bien vascularizada. La mortalidad oscila entre 5 a 15 % de los casos, excepto en la ruptura intraventricular del absceso cerebral, situación en que la mortalidad oscila entre 38 a 84 %, con tasas altas de discapacidad en los sobrevivientes. Se presentó un caso de 47 años, con sintomatología neurológica infecciosa, además de signos neurológicos que demuestran el trastorno funcional del lóbulo temporal no dominante. Se realizaron varios exámenes complementarios y se diagnosticó dos abscesos cerebrales temporales derechos. Fue intervenido neuroquirúrgicamente, su evolución fue satisfactoria con regresión de casi la totalidad de los síntomas prequirúrgicos presentados (AU).

ABSTRACT Brain abscess is a focal infectious process of the brain parenchyma. It begins with a located area of cerebritis and progresses to a pus collection surrounded by a well-vasculirized capsule. Mortality oscillates from 5 % to 15% of the cases, except in the intraventricular rupture of the brain abscess, situation in which mortality oscillates from 38 % to 84 %, with high rates of disability in survivors. The case presented is the case of a patient aged 47 years, with infectious neurologic symptoms besides neurologic signs showing the functional disorder of the non-dominant temporal lobe. Several complementary tests were carried out and two right temporal brain abscesses were diagnosed. The patient underwent a neurosurgery; his evolution was satisfactory with the almost total regression of the symptoms before surgery (AU).

Absceso cerebral por Cladophialophora bantiana en un paciente con trasplante renal: reporte de un caso / Brain abscess caused by Cladophialophora bantiana after renal allograft loss: A case report

Resumen Las feohifomicosis cerebrales son infecciones graves causadas por mohos dematiáceos, entre los cuales Cladophialophora bantiana es una de las especies más comúnmente aislada. Esta tiene tropismo por el sistema nervioso central y frecuentemente produce abscesos cerebrales en pacientes inmunocompetentes; además, en los inmunocomprometidos también puede ocasionar infección diseminada. Pese a la disponibilidad de medicamentos antifúngicos de amplio espectro, a menudo se requiere también la intervención quirúrgica; de todas maneras, la mortalidad es elevada. El diagnóstico debe hacerse interviniendo para tomar la muestra y hacer el cultivo y las pruebas de sensibilidad. Se presenta aquí el caso de un paciente con trasplante renal que presentó un absceso cerebral por C. bantiana, el cual se extrajo mediante resección quirúrgica. El paciente recibió tratamiento con voriconazol, con adecuada respuesta, mejoría y sin secuelas neurológicas.

Abstract Cerebral feohifomycosis are severe infections caused by dematiaceous fungi. Cladophialophora bantiana is one of the most commonly isolated species; it has central nervous system tropism and it often manifests as a brain abscess in immunocompetent patients. In immunocompromised patients, it can lead to brain abscesses and disseminated infections. Despite the availability of broad-spectrum antifungal drugs, it is a must to perform surgical management, in addition to drug therapy. However, mortality is high. The diagnostic approach must be invasive to establish a timely diagnosis and direct treatment based on culture and susceptibility tests. We report a case of brain abscess caused by C. bantiana in an immunosuppressed patient who was treated with surgical resection and voriconazole with an adequate response to therapy and without neurological sequels.

Postoperative otorhinolaryngologic complications in transnasal endoscopic surgery to access the skull base / Complicações pós-operatórias otorrinolaringológicas em cirurgias endoscópicas transnasais para acesso a base do crânio

Abstract Introduction: The large increase in the number of transnasal endoscopic skull base surgeries is a consequence of greater knowledge of the anatomic region, the development of specific materials and instruments, and especially the use of the nasoseptal flap as a barrier between the sinus tract (contaminated cavity) and the subarachnoid space (sterile area), reducing the high risk of contamination. Objective: To assess the otorhinolaryngologic complications in patients undergoing endoscopic surgery of the skull base, in which a nasoseptal flap was used. Methods: This was a retrospective study that included patients who underwent endoscopic skull base surgery with creation of a nasoseptal flap, assessing for the presence of the following post-surgical complications: cerebrospinal fluid leak, meningitis, mucocele formation, nasal synechia, septal perforation (prior to posterior septectomy), internal nasal valve failure, epistaxis, and olfactory alterations. Results: The study assessed 41 patients undergoing surgery. Of these, 35 had pituitary adenomas (macro- or micro-adenomas; sellar and suprasellar extension), three had meningiomas (two tuberculum sellae and one olfactory groove), two had craniopharyngiomas, and one had an intracranial abscess. The complications were cerebrospinal fluid leak (three patients; 7.3%), meningitis (three patients; 7.3%), nasal fossa synechia (eight patients; 19.5%), internal nasal valve failure (six patients; 14.6%), and complaints of worsening of the sense of smell (16 patients; 39%). The olfactory test showed anosmia or hyposmia in ten patients (24.3%). No patient had mucocele, epistaxis, or septal perforation. Conclusion: The use of the nasoseptal flap has revolutionized endoscopic skull base surgery, making the procedures more effective and with lower morbidity compared to the traditional route. However, although mainly transient nasal morbidities were observed, in some cases, permanent hyposmia and anosmia resulted. An improvement in this technique is therefore necessary to provide a better quality of life for the patient, reducing potential complications.

Resumo Introdução: O grande crescimento no número de cirurgias endoscópicas transnasais para a base do crânio ocorreu a partir de um maior conhecimento anatômico da região; do desenvolvimento de materiais e instrumentais específicos e, principalmente, após o uso do retalho nasosseptal como uma barreira entre o trato sinusal (cavidade contaminada) e o espaço subaracnóideo (área estéril), com redução de grandes riscos de contaminação. Objetivo: Avaliar as complicações otorrinolaringológicas nos pacientes submetidos à cirurgia endoscópica da base do crânio, na qual foi usado o retalho nasoseptal. Método: Estudo retrospectivo, no qual foram avaliados os pacientes submetidos à cirurgia da base do crânio por via endoscópica com retalho nasosseptal, quanto à presença no pós-operatório das seguintes complicações: fístula liquórica, meningite, formação de mucocele, sinéquia nasal, perfuração septal (anterior à septectomia posterior), insuficiência de válvula nasal interna, epistaxe e alteração olfatória. Resultados: Foram avaliados 41 pacientes submetidos à cirurgia. Desses, 35 eram portadores de adenomas hipofisários (macro ou microadenomas; selares e extensão supraselar), três meningiomas (dois de tubérculo selar e um da goteira olfatória), dois craniofaringiomas e um abscesso intracraniano. As complicações observadas foram: fístula liquórica (três pacientes - 7,3%), meningite (três pacientes - 7,3%), sinéquia em fossa nasal (oito pacientes - 19,5%), insuficiência de válvula nasal interna (seis pacientes - 14,6%) e queixa de pioria do olfato (16 pacientes - 39%). O teste olfatório evidenciou anosmia ou hiposmia em 10 pacientes (24,3%). Nenhum paciente apresentou mucocele, epistaxe ou perfuração septal. Conclusão: O uso do retalho nasosseptal proporcionou uma revolução na cirurgia da base do crânio por via endoscópica e tornou os procedimentos mais eficazes e com baixa morbidade, comparado com a via tradicional. Porém, passou a ocasionar morbidades nasais principalmente transitórias, mas em alguns casos permanentes, como hiposmia e anosmia. Assim, torna-se necessário um aperfeiçoamento dessa técnica para proporcionar uma melhoria na qualidade de vida do paciente e diminuir possíveis complicações.

Absceso cerebral en lactante: caso clínico y revisión de la literatura / Infant brain abscess: case report and literature review

El absceso cerebral concierne a una colección de pus localizada en el parénquima cerebral. Es muy poco frecuente en los niños lactantes, predominando en los jóvenes y personas de edad avanzada. Esta entidad se presenta con manifestaciones clínicas muy variable. Los agentes etiológicos son muy diversos pero predominan los Streptococos, Staphylococcus y la klebsiella. El diagnóstico se basa en el cuadro clínico, el examen físico y los complementarios. El tratamiento se adecua al estadio en el que se encuentre la lesión inflamatoria, el germen que la produzca, el tamaño de la lesión y la condición neurológica del paciente. En el presente trabajo se presenta un lactante de 4 meses de edad con antecedentes de haber tenido una infección respiratoria alta tres meses previos a su ingreso que un mes después comenzó con fiebre de 38-39° C asociado a irritabilidad y fontanela anterior ocupada, en la tomografía contrastada se evidenció imagen hipodensa en región frontal izquierda con gran efecto de masa y desplazamiento de las estructuras de la línea media. Fue puncionado dos días consecutivos donde se evacuaron 80 ml de pus amarillento, en cada proceder al 4to día se interviene quirúrgicamente con craneotomía frontotemporal izquierda y lobectomía frontal ipsilateral con resección de toda la cápsula. Se le mantuvo con tratamiento antibiótico por 3 semanas. En la resonancia magnética postoperatoria hubo una desaparición de los signos inflamatorios del encéfalo, su evolución posterior fue satisfactoria.

A cerebral abscess is defined as a collection of pus within the cerebral parenchyma. Though rare in infants, it is common among young patients and the elderly. The clinical manifestations are varied. The predominant etiological agents include Streptococci, staphylococci and klebsiella. A patient is diagnosed based on the clinical picture, the physical exam and complementary tests. Treatment options depend on the stage of the disease, its size, the causative agent, and the neurological condition of the patient. A case is presented of a four month old infant with a history of an upper respiratory tract infection three months prior to his admission. One month later, he exhibited a high fever of 38-39 °C with irritability and a tense anterior fontanel. The CT scan revealed a hypo dense lesion in the left frontal lobe with significant mass effect and midline shift. The lesion was punctured on two consecutive days and 80 ml of yellowish pus was removed on both occasions. Four days later, a left fronto-temporal craniotomy and an ipsilateral frontal lobectomy was performed, with complete excision of the capsule. Antibiotic therapy was continued for three weeks. The post op MRI confirmed the complete excision of the lesion and disappearance of the surrounding edema. Recovery was satisfactory

Brainstem abscess of undetermined origin: microsurgical drainage and brief antibiotic therapy / Abscesso do tronco encefálico de origem indeterminada: drenagem microcirúrgica e antibioticoterapia curta

CONTEXT: Solitary brainstem abscesses are rare and they are usually associated with other infections. They are severe conditions with high morbidity and mortality. The surgical options are stereotactic aspiration and microsurgical drainage. Systemic antibiotic therapy is used for more than six weeks. CASE REPORT: We present the case of a young man with a solitary abscess at the pons, without other systemic infections. The patient was treated by means of microsurgical drainage and antibiotic therapy for three weeks. His postoperative recovery was good. CONCLUSIONS: A microsurgical approach may be considered to be an important option for large abscesses that are multiloculated, close to the surface or contain thick fluid. Complete emptying of the purulent accumulation may diminish the required duration of antibiotic therapy. .

CONTEXTO: Abscessos isolados do tronco encefálico são raros e geralmente associados a outras infecções. Trata-se de condição grave, com grande morbidade e mortalidade. Opções cirúrgicas são aspiração com estereotaxia e drenagem microcirúrgica. Antibioticoterapia sistêmica tem sido usada por mais de seis semanas. RELATO DE CASO: Apresentamos o caso de um jovem com abscesso pontino sem outras infecções sistêmicas. O paciente foi tratado com drenagem microcirúrgica e antibioticoterapia por três semanas. Houve boa evolução pós-operatória. CONCLUSÕES: Acesso microcirúrgico pode ser considerado uma opção importante no tratamento de grandes abscessos do tronco encefálico, que são multiloculados, próximos da superfície ou que contenham líquido espesso. Drenagem completa do material purulento pode diminuir o período de antibioticoterapia. .

Absceso cerebral en niños: una complicación de otomastoiditis crónica de diagnóstico tardío / Brain abscess in children: a complication of late diagnosis chronic mastoiditis

Reportamos el caso de una paciente de 7 años de edad que presentó otitis media aguda complicada con otomastoiditis crónica quien fue operada de una timpanomastoidectomía a los dos meses y medio de enfermedad, a los tres meses presentó fiebre, signos de hipertensión endocraneana y paresia del miembro superior izquierdo. La tomografía espiral multicorte mostró absceso en el lóbulo temporal ipsilateral. Recibió tratamiento antibiótico de amplia cobertura y fue sometida a resección quirúrgica del absceso. Seis semanas después de la intervención quirúrgica salió de alta con monoparesia del brazo izquierdo con desempeño independiente.

We report a case of a seven year old patient who had acute media otitis complicated with chronic otomastoiditis, who was operated of timpanomastoidectomy after two months and a half of illness, at three months she had fever, endocraneal hypertension signs and paresia of the left upper limb. The multislice spiral tomography showed the presence of an abscess on the ipsilateral temporal lobe. She received extended-spectrum antibiotic therapy and surgical excision of the abscess. Six weeks after the surgery she was discharged from the hospital with left upper limb monoparesia with independent performance.

Chronic brain abscess secondary to a retained wooden foreign body: Diagnostic and management dilemmas.

A four-year-old child presented with recent onset generalized tonic clonic seizures. She was operated for a suspected intracranial tuberculoma and was found to harbor an intra-parenchymal retained wooden foreign body with a chronic abscess. The foreign body had entered the brain parenchyma after a minor head injury, sustained three years earlier. She was asymptomatic for the intervening three years. The initial diagnosis was missed by several physicians. A retained wooden fragment via a transtemporal apparently closed head injury is an extremely rare event. The present study reveals the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges and stresses the importance of high degree of suspicion to diagnose retained intracranial foreign bodies and the need for early surgical exploration, to avoid chronic and potentially life threatening neurological complications.

Absceso cerebral por Citrobacter koseri en lactantes. Presentación de un caso y revisión de la bibliografía / Citrobacter koseri brain abscess in an infant. Case report and literature review

Se presenta el caso de una niña de 2 meses admitida con absceso cerebral, cuya manifestación principal fue la macrocefalia evolutiva. Presentaba irritabilidad y vómitos aislados comosíntomas asociados. Se realizó tomografía axial computada cerebral que reveló una lesión quística de localización frontal con desplazamiento hemisférico contralateral. La intervención quirúrgica permitió obtener material purulento, con cultivo positivo para Citrobacter koseri (diversus). El cultivo de líquido cefalorraquídeo fue negativo. Cumplió tratamiento antibióticodurante 6 semanas con buena evolución. Como complicación presentó hidrocefalia posquirúrgica que requirió colocación de válvula ventriculoperitoneal.

Disproportionate correlation between imaging and outcome in an infant with cerebral abscess

Brain abscesses represent organized foci of suppuration within the parenchyma. Here we report a 3 month-old girl with a very huge complicated cerebral abscess, and the course of treatment given. The patient's recovery was excellent. The follow up MRI showed only subtle porencephalic changes as the only parenchymal sequelae, which may be due to CNS plasticity in infants

Abscessos do tronco cerebral: apresentação de seis casos / Brain stem abscess: a study of six cases

Estudo retrospectivo de seis casos de abscesso de tronco cerebral, atendidos num período de cinco anos em nosso Serviço. Foram levados em consideração: idade dos pacientes, sexo, comorbidades, sorologia para HIV, quadro clínico, tratamento realizado (craniotomia ou punção por estereotaxia), microorganismo identificado e resultado do tratamento. Apresentamos, a seguir, a discussão dos casos e revisão da literatura...

Intracranial complications of chronic suppurative otitis media

To study the presentations of various intra cranial complications of chronic suppurative otitis media [SOM]. This prospective and descriptive study was conducted in the department of ENT, Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar from April 2006 to march 2007. All the cases with suspected intra cranial complications were admitted to the department and assessed clinically and radiologically. Audiological, and laboratory investigations were done as well. Out of 50 cases 36 were male and 14 female ranging from 10-40years in age. Complications like meningitis and brain abscesses were more common in males in the 2[nd] and 3[rd] decade of life [72%]. Most of the complications were from atticoantral diseases. The main presenting features were foul smelling otorrhea, headache, and fever, neck stiffness, chloestosteatoma and granulations in the ear. Meningitis [46%], temporal lobe abscess [36%] and extra dural abscess [14%] were the commonest complications. Burr hole aspiration, for intra cranial abscess and radical/modified radical mastoidecomy for SOM were the main surgical procedure carried out for these patients. Otogenic intra cranial complications like meningitis and brain abscesses are still common in spite of advances in the medical sciences. Complications are common in 2[nd] and 3[rd] decade of life. Meningitis is the commonest complication followed by brain abscess Burr whole aspiration with modified, radical mastoidectomy is the main stay of treatment along with parenteral antibiotics

Diagnosis and management of pituitary abscess

Pituitary abscess is a rare but serious intrasellar infection. To determine the signs and symptoms we present one case of a 40 year-old man without an infectious history nor of immunodepression, who had complained of severe headache, a right converge strablism, polyuria and polydipsia. The neurological examination was normal investigation of the old site was negative. Computerised tomography showed a pituitary adenoma. Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] on the other hand, was in favour of a pituitary abscess: sellar hypointense T1-weighted, hyper-signal T2-weighted lesion with thin ring-enhancement following gadolinium injection. Transsphenoidal surgery was performed with a sterile culture. Anatomo-pathological study of the capsule showed nonspecific inflammatory tissue. Under antibiotherapy and after three months of clinical improvement, the symptomatology reappeared with a recurrence of the pituitary abscess on MRI. Drainage was carried out in the same manner as initially. Evolution under the same antibiotherapy was good with no recurrence of the pituitary abscess three years later. Pituitary abscess is a rare pathology, of difficult diagnosis even with MRI and often presents a surprise whilst operating. Outcome, except in recurrence, is excellent

Abscesos cerebrales: tratamiento quirúrgico actual / Cerebral abscess: current surgical treatment

El absceso cerebral es una patología grave cuyo pronóstico de depende, dentro de otros factores, del diagnóstico precoz, tratamiento quirúrgico oportuno y antibioterapia adecuada. Actualmente se cuenta con antibióticos de alta calidad, imagenología y laboratorio de microbiología de excelencia, que no existían en épocas pasadas. Nos pareció interesante analizar el resultado del tratamiento contemporáneo de esta patología. Se estudiaron 18 pacientes operados en nuestro hospital en los últimos 11 años. La mayoría se presentó con un síndrome de hipertensión intracraneana y déficit neurológico. Se realizó craneotomía y drenaje en 14 casos, y en 4 drenaje por aspiración vía estereotáxica. Hubo 4 reoperaciones por recidiva del absceso. Se demostraron gérmenes en una alta proporción de los pacientes (83 por ciento), el estreptococo fue el más frecuente. Los antibióticos más utilizados fueron cefalosporinas de III generación, metronidazol, penicilina y vancomicina. El tratamiento duró entre 4 y 8 semanas en más del 80 por ciento por ciento de casos. Un paciente falleció y en 3 que presentaban un déficit neurológico previo este persistió en el postoperatorio, otros 3 desarrollaron epilepsia con buen control médico en el seguimiento postoperatorio de más de un año. De acuerdo a estos resultados se puede concluir que el pronóstico actual de los abscesos cerebrales ha mejorado, como consecuencia de imágenes radiológicas de mejor calidad en el diagnóstico y control postoperatorio, excelentes laboratorios de microbiología con alto índice de cultivos positivos y mejores antibióticos.

solitary primary aspergillus brain abscess in an immunocompetant host: CT guided stereotaxy with an excellent outcome

Cerebral aspergillosis is a rare clinical condition, which is often fatal despite aggressive medical and surgical intervention. Primary central nervous system [CNS] fungal infections, where the brain is the sole site of infection in the absence of extracranial focus, are exceedingly rare. Authors report a successfully managed case of a primary solitary aspergillus brain abscess in the occipital lobe of a healthy gentleman without any previous history of medical illness. Initially, computed tomography [CT], guided stereotactic aspiration of the occipital lobe abscess, and later trephine craniotomy for the excision of the abscess with concomitant aggressive medical therapy [amphotericin-B, flucytosine] were curative. Interesting clinical, CT and operative findings are presented and discussed