A 6-month-old infant girl presents with neck stiffness

2020 ◽  
Vol 121 (6) ◽  
pp. 749-750
Author(s):  
N. Cramer ◽  
D. Azhdam
Keyword(s):  
BMC Neurology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chenyang Zhang ◽  
Kang Zhang ◽  
Bing Chen ◽  
Jiao Yin ◽  
Miaomiao Dong ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD), a group of autoimmune neurological diseases, involve the optic nerve, spinal cord, and brain. Meningitis is rarely reported as the primary clinical manifestation of both anti-aquaporin-4 (AQP4)/ anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibody-negative NMOSD (NMOSDneg). Case presentation A 30-year-old man initially presented with fever, headache, and neck stiffness. Lumbar puncture revealed mixed cell reaction and decreased glucose levels. As a result, tuberculous meningitis was suspected. After 1 month, the patient developed longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis and area postrema syndrome. This was followed by the presentation of meningitis-like symptoms once again in the third attack, but his condition eventually improved after corticosteroid treatment without relapse for 2 years. However, he was readmitted to our hospital owing to symptoms of diplopia, hiccup, and numbness in the right hand. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed that the area postrema still contained lesions. Spinal MRI revealed several segmental enhancements at the C4–C5, T1, and T5 levels. Anti-AQP4 and anti-MOG antibodies were persistently absent in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The patient was finally diagnosed with NMOSDneg. Conclusions Meningitis could be a recurrent manifestation of NMOSDneg and requires more careful evaluation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 225-228
Author(s):  
Sara McDougall ◽  
Felicity Turner

On October 2, 2020, a newborn infant girl was discovered in the trash in an airport bathroom in Doha, Qatar. There was a rush to secure the infant's life, which was successful. There was a rush, also, to find the infant's mother, an effort that involved subjecting several women to intrusive physical examinations to determine if they had recently given birth, leading, eventually, to international outcry.


2016 ◽  
Vol 105 (4) ◽  
pp. 254-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. K. Nicoli ◽  
M. Oinas ◽  
M. Niemelä ◽  
A. A. Mäkitie ◽  
T. Atula

Background: Intracranial complications of paranasal sinusitis have become rare due to widespread and early use of antibiotics. Potentially life-threatening intracranial complications of sinusitis include subdural empyema, epidural and intracerebral abscess, meningitis, and sinus thrombosis. Patients with intracranial complication of sinusitis can present without neurological signs, which may delay diagnosis and correct treatment. Aims: Our aim was to evaluate the diagnostics, treatment, and outcome of sinusitis-related intracranial infections at our tertiary referral hospital with a catchment area of 1.9 million people. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively collected data on all patients diagnosed and treated with an intracranial infection at the Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland, during a 10-year period between 2003 and 2013. Results: Six patients were diagnosed to have a sinusitis-related intracranial infection. Four patients had an epidural abscess, one both an epidural abscess and a subdural empyema and one a subdural empyema. The most common presenting complaint was headache (100%) followed by fever (83%), vomiting (50%), nasal congestion (50%), forehead lump (34%), and neck stiffness (17%). All patients were managed surgically. Most (83%) patients recovered to premorbid state without neurological sequelae. One patient died intraoperatively. Conclusion: Patients with a sinusitis-related intracranial suppuration typically present with signs of raised intracranial pressure rather than signs of sinusitis. Most are likely to need neurosurgical intervention and evacuation of the abscess without delay.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Keon Young Park ◽  
Kevin C. Janek ◽  
Joshua L. Hermsen ◽  
Petros V. Anagnostopoulos ◽  
Hau D. Le

Abstract Introduction Congenital single lung (CSL) is a rare condition, and symptomatic patients often present with respiratory distress or recurrent respiratory infection due to mediastinal shift causing vascular or airway compression. Aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA) is another rare congenital anomality that can lead to tracheal or esophageal compressions. There is only one other case of concurrent presentation of CSL and ARSA reported, which presented unique challenge in surgical management of our patient. Here we present a step-wise, multidisciplinary approach to manage symptomatic CSL and ARSA. Case presentation An infant girl with a prenatal diagnosis of CSL developed worsening stridor and several episodes of respiratory illnesses at 11 months old. Cross-sectional imaging and bronchoscopic evaluation showed moderate to severe distal tracheomalacia with anterior and posterior tracheal compression resulting from severe mediastinal rotation secondary to right-sided CSL. It was determined that her tracheal compression was mainly caused by her aortic arch wrapping around the trachea, with possible additional posterior compression of the esophagus by the ARSA. She first underwent intrathoracic tissue expander placement, which resulted in immediate improvement of tracheal compression. Two days later, she developed symptoms of dysphagia lusoria due to increased posterior compression of her esophagus by the ARSA. She underwent transposition of ARSA to the right common carotid with immediate resolution of dysphagia lusoria. As the patient grew, additional saline was added to the tissue expander due to recurrence in compressive symptoms. Conclusions Concurrent presentation of CSL and ARSA is extremely rare. Asymptomatic CSL and ARSA do not require surgical interventions. However, if symptomatic, it is crucial to involve a multidisciplinary team for surgical planning and to take a step-wise approach as we were able to recognize and address both tracheomalacia and dysphagia lusoria in our patient promptly.


1994 ◽  
Vol 81 (6) ◽  
pp. 934-936 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alok Ranjan ◽  
Thomas Joseph

✓ This forty-five-year-old woman presented with a history suggestive of an intracranial hemorrhage. Clinical examination indicated mild right pyramidal signs and neck stiffness. Computerized tomography demonstrated contrast enhancement in the region of a left frontal intraparenchymal hematoma with an adjacent subdural hematoma. Angiography revealed the presence of a giant aneurysm on the left anterior ethmoidal artery. Surgical evacuation of the hematoma with excision of the aneurysm and coagulation of the feeding artery was achieved. Postoperative recovery was uneventful. Vascular lesions of the anterior ethmoidal artery and the rarity of a giant aneurysm at this site are discussed.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles A. Odonkor ◽  
Teresa Tang ◽  
David Taftian ◽  
Akhil Chhatre

Introduction. Cervicogenic headache is characterized by unilateral neck or face pain referred from various structures such as the cervical joints and intervertebral disks. A recent study of patients with cervical pain showed significant pain relief after cervical medial branch neurotomy but excluded patients with C1-2 joint pain. It remains unclear whether targeting this joint has potential for symptomatic relief. To address this issue, we present a case report of C1-2 joint ablation with positive outcomes. Case Presentation. A 27-year-old female presented with worsening cervicogenic headache. Her pain was 9/10 by visual analog scale (VAS) and described as cramping and aching. Pain was localized suboccipitally with radiation to her jaw and posterior neck, worse on the right. Associated symptoms included clicking of her temporomandibular joint, neck stiffness, bilateral headaches with periorbital pain, numbness, and tingling. History, physical exam, and diagnostic studies indicated localization to the C1-2 joint with 80% decrease in pain after C1-2 diagnostic blocks. She underwent bilateral intra-articular radiofrequency ablation of the C1-C2 joint. Follow-up at 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks showed improved function and pain relief with peak results at 12 weeks. Conclusion. Clinicians may consider C1-C2 joint ablation as a viable long-term treatment option for cervicogenic headaches.


2008 ◽  
Vol 139 (2_suppl) ◽  
pp. P196-P196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorraine M Smith ◽  
Ryan F Osborne

Problem To report the rare occurrence of a yolk sac tumor of the nose and nasopharynx presenting as acute sinusitis and bilateral complete blindness. Methods The clinical presentation, pathologic features, and management of this 2-year-old infant girl is reviewed. We also performed a medical literature search in English using PUBMED and OVID databases. We then analyzed the literature with respect to clinical presentation, manifestations and therapies for other extra-gonadal yolk sac tumors presenting in the head and neck. Results The patient was treated with 4 courses of high dose cis-platinum, etoposide, bleomycin repeated every 3 weeks along with surgery. She had initial mild improvement in visual perception along with shrinkage of her tumor. The yolk sac malignancies of the head and neck are often, large, aggressive lesions on presentation that once treated have a tendency to recur. Conclusion Yolk sac tumors (endodermal sinus tumors) represent 3–5% of pediatric malignancies. They are rare malignancies in the head and neck, of germ cell origin. Successful treatment usually requires a combination of chemotherapy and surgical extirpation followed by postoperative chemotherapy. Significance Recurrent sinusitis and nasal obstruction in children should be evaluated carefully and with a high level of suspicion for rare nasal and nasopharyngeal malignancies. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment may alleviate many of the presenting symptoms and prolong life.


Neurosurgery ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 55 (6) ◽  
pp. E1430-E1434 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlo Santaguida ◽  
Abdulrahman J. Sabbagh ◽  
Marie-Christine Guiot ◽  
Rolando F. Del Maestro

Abstract OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: Intramedullary melanotic schwannomas are very rare lesions; only four cases have been reported previously. We describe a patient with an intramedullary melanotic schwannoma that had a more aggressive course than those reported in the literature, and we review the theories regarding the cause of these lesions. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 35-year-old man presented with neck stiffness and paraesthesia extending down his right arm upon neck extension. A magnetic resonance imaging scan revealed an intramedullary lesion extending from C4 to C5. INTERVENTION: Gross total resection of the mass was performed, and pathological characteristics were consistent with a melanotic schwannoma. Two years after resection the tumor recurred, and the patient was treated with radiation therapy. The tumor progressed 2 years after radiotherapy, and at repeat resection, multiple pigmented foci were present on the surface of the spinal cord and dura consistent with metastatic seeding. CONCLUSION: In a patient with intramedullary melanotic schwannoma with an unusually aggressive course, careful follow-up may be essential.


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