Nocardia Brain Abscess Mimicking a Metastatic Brain Tumor: A Severe CNS Infection Requiring Aggressive Management
Journal of the Korean Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
; : 50-54, 2013.
Article
in En
| WPRIM
| ID: wpr-90660
Responsible library:
WPRO
ABSTRACT
Nocardiosis is an uncommon Gram-positive bacterial infection caused by aerobic actinomycetes in the genus Nocardia. Nocardia spp. have the ability to cause localized or systemic suppurative disease in humans and animals. Nocardiosis is typically regarded as an opportunistic infection, but approximately one-third of infected patients are immunocompetent. We report a rare case of pulmonary nocardiosis and a brain abscess caused by Nocardia asteroides in an elderly woman with a history of Crohn's disease. Radiographic imaging revealed a contrast-enhancing lesion with perilesional parenchymal edema that was preoperatively thought to be a neoplasm. The patient experienced aggressive disease progression simulating a metastatic brain tumor. Early diagnosis of norcadiosis, the absence of underlying disease, and the administration of appropriate antibiotics has a positive impact on prognosis. Familiarity with the magnetic resonance and computed tomography findings associated with CNS nocardiosis, such as those presented here, is essential for making an early diagnosis.
Key words
Full text:
1
Index:
WPRIM
Main subject:
Prognosis
/
Opportunistic Infections
/
Brain
/
Brain Abscess
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Brain Neoplasms
/
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
/
Crohn Disease
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Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections
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Actinobacteria
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Disease Progression
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Screening_studies
Limits:
Animals
/
Female
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Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Journal of the Korean Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
Year:
2013
Type:
Article