Erosion of the sella turcica and pituitary expansion secondary to polymicrobial brain abscesses: a case report

Introduction. Brain abscesses can lead to a diverse array of complications, especially when they are polymicrobial in nature. Multiple underlying pathogens may present with a unique set of clinical symptoms which require an early identification and treatment. Skull base osteomyelitis with sellar floor erosion and pituitary involvement with SIADH are such rare complications of brain abscesses which have never been reported previously in the literature. Case Presentation. We report the case of an immunocompetent 38-year-old male with altered mental sensorium and left hemiparesis due to polymicrobial brain abscess which required surgical evacuation. The post-operative recovery was complicated by severe hyponatremia secondary to SIADH which was treated uneventfully. Radiological imaging demonstrated pituitary enlargement with herniation through an eroded sella turcica without active CSF leak. Patient responded well to the antibiotic therapy based on microbiological susceptibility testing with a complete resolution of the pituitary enlargement on radiological follow-up. Conclusion. Conservative treatment with targeted antibiotics can lead to the resolution of pituitary enlargement secondary to a brain abscess. However, a close clinical follow-up is required to look for a CSF leak considering the sellar floor erosion due to osteomyelitis.

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Brain Abscess Caused by Nocardia: Case Report and Literature Review

Arquivos Brasileiros de Neurocirurgia Brazilian Neurosurgery ◽

10.1055/s-0040-1719124 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Guilherme Finger ◽

Maria Eduarda Conte Gripa ◽

Tiago Paczko Bozko Cecchini ◽

Tobias Ludwig do Nascimento

Keyword(s):

Case Report ◽

Antibiotic Therapy ◽

Brain Abscess ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Occipital Lobe ◽

High Morbidity ◽

Rare Clinical Entity ◽

Brain Abscesses

AbstractNocardia brain abscess is a rare clinical entity, accounting for 2% of all brain abscesses, associated with high morbidity and a mortality rate 3 times higher than brain abscesses caused by other bacteria. Proper investigation and treatment, characterized by a long-term 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.

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A case of statin-induced liver injury with positive rechallenge with a second statin. Is there a class effect?

Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology ◽

10.1515/jbcpp-2021-0013 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

Author(s):

Giovanna Onfiani ◽

Fabio Nascimbeni ◽

Francesca Carubbi

Keyword(s):

Liver Injury ◽

Clinical Symptoms ◽

High Risk Population ◽

Drug Induced ◽

Case Presentation ◽

Drug Induced Liver Injury ◽

Aged Woman ◽

Cardiovascular Morbidity And Mortality ◽

Middle Aged Woman

Abstract Objectives Statins have proved to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in high-risk population and are generally well tolerated, although adverse events can occur. Up to 3% of patients develop aminotransferases elevation, which usually normalizes with continued treatment and hardly is associated with clinical symptoms. Serious statin-related liver injury is exceedingly rare. Furthermore, literature regarding rechallenge with a second statin is extremely poor. Some authors caution that re-exposure to these drugs is associated with a more serious liver injury but safe switching to a second statin after drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is also reported. Case presentation We describe a case of a middle-aged woman who developed hepatocellular liver injury after simvastatin dose escalation; a rechallenge with low dose rosuvastatin caused rapid recurrence of DILI. Conclusions In our opinion, clinicians should be very cautious upon rechallenge and closely follow-up patients who experienced statin-induced liver injury when trying re-exposure to another statin.

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Role of Invasive Urodynamic Studies in Establishing Cauda Equina Syndrome and Postoperative Recovery

Global Spine Journal ◽

10.1177/2192568220979640 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 219256822097964

Author(s):

Abhinandan Reddy Mallepally ◽

Bibhudendu Mohapatra ◽

Kalidutta Das

Keyword(s):

Clinical Symptoms ◽

False Positive Rate ◽

Cauda Equina ◽

Postoperative Recovery ◽

Normal Bladder ◽

Acontractile Detrusor ◽

Positive Rate ◽

Acute Radiculopathy ◽

Operative Recovery

Study design: Retrospective with prospective follow-up. Objective: Confirming the diagnosis of CES based purely on symptoms and signs is unreliable and usually associated with high false positive rate. A missed diagnosis can permanently disable the patient. Present study aims to determine the relationship between clinical symptoms/ signs (bladder dysfunction) with UDS, subsequently aid in surgical decision making and assessing post-operative recovery. Methods: A prospective follow-up of patients with disc herniation and bladder symptoms from January 2018 to July 2020 was done. All patients underwent UDS and grouped into acontractile, hypocontractile and normal bladder. Data regarding PAS, VAC, GTP, timing to surgery and onset of radiculopathy and recovery with correlation to UDS was done preoperatively and post operatively. Results: 107 patients were studied (M-63/F-44). Patients with PAS present still had acontractile (61%) or hypocontractile (39%) detrusor and with VAC present, 57% had acontractile and 43% hypocontractile detrusors. 10 patients with both PAS and VAC present had acontractile detrusor. 82% patients with acute radiculopathy (<2 days) improved when operated <24 hrs while only 47% showed improvement with chronic radiculopathy. The detrusor function recovered in 66.1% when operated <12 hours, 40% in <12-24 hours of presentation. Conclusion: Adjuvant information from UDS in combination with clinicoradiological findings help in accurate diagnosis even in patients with no objective motor and sensory deficits. Quantitative findings on UDS are consistent with postoperative recovery of patient’s urination power, representing improvement and can be used as a prognostic factor.

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Chilaiditi Syndrome: A Case Report Highlighting the Intermittent Nature of the Disease

Case Reports in Medicine ◽

10.1155/2018/3515370 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2018 ◽

pp. 1-3 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Esha M. Kapania ◽

Christina Link ◽

Joshua M. Eberhardt

Keyword(s):

Case Report ◽

Complete Resolution ◽

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Case Reports ◽

Delayed Diagnosis ◽

Spontaneous Resolution ◽

Radiographic Evidence ◽

Case Presentation ◽

Chilaiditi Syndrome

Background. Chilaiditi syndrome is a phenomenon where there is an interposition of the colon between the liver and the abdominal wall leading to clinical symptoms. This is distinct from Chilaiditi sign for which there is radiographic evidence of the interposition, but is asymptomatic. Case Presentation. Here, we present the case of a patient who, despite having clinical symptoms for a decade, had a delayed diagnosis presumably due to the interposition being intermittent and episodic. Conclusions. This case highlights the fact that Chilaiditi syndrome may be intermittent and episodic in nature. This raises an interesting question of whether previous case reports, which describe complete resolution of the syndrome after nonsurgical intervention, are perhaps just capturing periods of resolution that may have occurred spontaneously. Because the syndrome may be intermittent with spontaneous resolution and then recurrence, patients should have episodic follow-up after nonsurgical intervention.

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A STUDY OF CLINICAL PRESENTATION AND MANAGEMENT OF PITUITARY TUMORS

10.36106/7630963 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 58-60

Author(s):

Manthan Patel ◽

Naimish Patel

Keyword(s):

Clinical Presentation ◽

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Pituitary Tumors ◽

Csf Leak ◽

Total Removal ◽

Diagnostic Investigation ◽

Subtotal Removal ◽

Visual Disturbances ◽

Bitemporal Hemianopia

The study includes 25 cases of pituitary adenomas. Most common age group by pituitary tumors falls between 41-50 years of age. Male: Female incidence of these tumors is 1: 2.12. Most common clinical symptoms in our series are visual disturbances followed by headache. Optic nerve involvement is other common clinical nding presenting in form of decreased vision or loss of vision, eld defect or fundus changes. Commonest eld defect is bitemporal hemianopia. MRI is the diagnostic investigation of choice in pituitary tumors to dene extent, invasion and relationship to major vessels and nerves. Approximately half (44%) of the patients exhibited normal preoperative pituitary function in form of baseline hormone prole. Increased GH level (32%) followed by hyperprolactinemia (20%) are the most common endocrinologic abnormalities. Total/near total removal was done in 21 patients (84%) and subtotal removal done in 4 patients (16%). Adjuvant therapies were given in 5 patients. Two patients were given radiotherapy and 3 were given pharmacotherapy. Post operative complications were CSF leak, diabetes insipidus and meningitis. 20 patients (80%) had improvement in their symptoms including relief from headache, improvement in vision and endocrinal dysfunction. Post operatively visual functions improved in 13 patients (52%) and it remained stationary in 11 (44%) patients. Only one patient (4%) complained of worsening of his visual function and it was improved in follow up period

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Paediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome temporally associated with COVID-19: a new virus and a new case presentation

BMJ Case Reports ◽

10.1136/bcr-2020-238531 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (12) ◽

pp. e238531

Author(s):

Phoebe Makiello ◽

Sima Svirpliene ◽

Lisa Finlay ◽

Jean McKnight

Keyword(s):

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Late Phase ◽

Upper Airway ◽

Intravenous Immunoglobulins ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Haemodynamic Instability ◽

Case Presentation ◽

Full Resolution ◽

Inflammatory Syndrome

An 11-year-old boy presented with features resembling those described in health alerts on Paediatric Inflammatory Multisystem Syndrome Temporally associated with SARS-CoV-2 (PIMS-TS), including persistent fever, haemodynamic instability and abdominal pain. Laboratory tests, including raised inflammatory markers, D-dimer, troponin and a coagulopathy, were consistent with PIMS-TS. Our patient required transfer to the paediatric intensive care unit; an echocardiography revealed left ventricular dysfunction. He was treated with intravenous immunoglobulins (Igs), corticosteroids and aspirin, with full resolution of clinical symptoms. A follow-up echocardiogram 1 month after discharge was unremarkable.Three SARS-CoV-2 PCRs on respiratory samples, taken over the initial 4-day period, were negative, as was a SARS-CoV-2 PCR on faeces 1 month after presentation; titres of IgG were clearly elevated. The negative PCRs in the presence of elevated titres of IgG suggest that the inflammatory syndrome might have developed in a late phase of COVID-19 infection when the virus was no longer detectable in the upper airway.

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Stereotactic Aspiration and Antibiotic Treatment Combined with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in the Management of Bacterial Brain Abscesses

Neurosurgery ◽

10.1227/01.neu.0000186012.95462.e5 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 57 (6) ◽

pp. 1140-1146 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Murat Kutlay ◽

Ahmet Çolak ◽

Şenol Yıldız ◽

Nusret Demircan ◽

Osman Niyazi Akın

Keyword(s):

Brain Abscess ◽

Antibiotic Treatment ◽

Hyperbaric Oxygen ◽

Surgical Techniques ◽

Adjunctive Treatment ◽

Stereotactic Aspiration ◽

Systemic Antibiotic Therapy ◽

Number Of Patients ◽

Brain Abscesses

Abstract OBJECTIVE: Despite advances in surgical techniques in the management of the brain abscess, long-term antibiotics are as crucial to cure as the initial surgical procedure itself. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of adjuvant hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy on the duration of antibiotic treatment. METHODS: Between 1999 and 2004, 13 patients with bacterial brain abscesses treated with stereotactic aspiration combined with HBO and systemic antibiotic therapy. Patients younger than 18 years of age were excluded from this study. Postoperatively, all patients were given a 4-week course of intravenous antibiotics. Additionally, patients received hyperbaric oxygen (HBO, 100% O2 at 2.5 ATA for 60 min) twice daily for five consecutive days, and an additional treatment (100% O2 at 2.5 ATA for 60 min daily) was given for 25 days. RESULTS: There were eight male and five female patients. Their ages ranged between 18 and 71 years, with a mean of 43.9 years. The average duration of follow-up was 9.5 months (range, 8–13 mo). This treatment modality allowed infection control and healing for all 13 patients with 0% recurrence rate. HBO treatment was tolerated well, and there were no adverse effects of pressurization. At the end of the follow-up period, 12 patients had a good outcome: nine are without sequelae, and three have a mild hemiparesis but are capable of self-care. One patient has a moderate hemiparesis. CONCLUSION: Although the number of patients is small, this series represents the largest reported group of brain abscess patients treated with stereotactic aspiration combined with antibiotic and HBO therapy. Our preliminary results indicate that the length of time on antibiotics can be shortened with the use of HBO as an adjunctive treatment.

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Long-term application of hydroxychloroquine could not prevent the infection of COVID-19

The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries ◽

10.3855/jidc.13527 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 14 (12) ◽

pp. 1368-1373

Author(s):

Yin Zhu ◽

Yongping Chen ◽

Yuewen Gong ◽

Aijun Pan ◽

Huijie Ding ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Oxygen Intake ◽

Case Presentation ◽

Reactive Protein ◽

Ceftriaxone Sodium ◽

Hospital Stays ◽

Hs Crp ◽

Current Report

Introduction: Current pandemic of the coronavirus induced disease 2019 (COVID-19) presents an urgent issue to the world due to lack of vaccine and medication. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) has generated a lot of controversies whether it is effective in prevention and treatment of COVID-19. Current report presents a 63-year-old woman who has taken HCQ for many years but still infected by COVID-19. Case presentation: A patient with rheumatoid arthritis came to the clinic with fever and sore throat. The patient has been treated with 200 mg HCQ per day since 2016. Laboratory tests showed that the patient had lymphopenia, increased levels of high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and serum Interleukin-6 (IL-6). Chest radiography showed that the patient had pneumonia. Throat swab test confirmed COVID-19 positive. On admission, she was treated with nebulized interferon alfa-2b, oral Lopinavir/Ritonavir, and ceftriaxone sodium for the COVID-19 in addition to HCQ. The patient stayed in hospital for 18 days, recovered from oxygen intake, and eventually discharged from hospital. Follow up investigation showed the patient developed antibody against COVID-19. Conclusions: Long-term application of HCQ could not prevent COVID-19 infection, but whether HCQ exerts benefit to alleviation of clinical symptoms and duration of hospital stays remains to be further investigated.

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Rathke cleft cysts: a review of clinical and surgical management

Neurosurgical FOCUS ◽

10.3171/2011.5.focus1183 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 31 (1) ◽

pp. E1 ◽

Cited By ~ 49

Author(s):

Gabriel Zada

Keyword(s):

Cyst Wall ◽

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Field Testing ◽

Csf Leak ◽

Recurrence Rates ◽

Alcohol Injection ◽

Nonsurgical Management ◽

Relationship Of ◽

Sellar Floor

The aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive review of clinical, imaging, and histopathological features, as well as operative and nonoperative management strategies in patients with Rathke cleft cysts (RCCs). A literature review was performed to identify previous articles that reported surgical and nonsurgical management of RCCs. Rathke cleft cysts are often incidental lesions found in the sellar and suprasellar regions and do not require surgical intervention in the majority of cases. In symptomatic RCCs, the typical clinical presentation includes headache, visual loss, and/or endocrine dysfunction. Visual field testing and endocrine laboratory studies may reveal more subtle deficiencies associated with RCCs. When indicated, the transsphenoidal approach typically offers the least invasive and safest method for treating these lesions. Various surgical strategies including cyst wall resection, intralesional alcohol injection, and sellar floor reconstruction are discussed. Although headache and visual symptoms frequently improve after surgical drainage of RCCs, hypopituitarism and diabetes insipidus are less likely to do so. A subset of more aggressive, atypical RCCs associated with pronounced clinical symptoms and higher recurrence rates is discussed, as well as the possible relationship of these lesions to craniopharyngiomas. Rathke cleft cysts are typically benign, asymptomatic lesions that can be monitored. In selected patients, transsphenoidal surgery provides excellent rates of improvement in clinical symptoms and long-term cyst resolution. Complete cyst wall resection, intraoperative alcohol cauterization, and sellar floor reconstruction in the absence of a CSF leak are not routinely recommended.

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Medical treatment for an isolated renal multilocular hydatid cyst in an elderly: a case report

BMC Nephrology ◽

10.1186/s12882-020-02064-5 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Atie Moghtadaie ◽

Seyed Amir Miratashi Yazdi ◽

Minoo Mohraz ◽

Hoda Asefi ◽

Effat Razeghi

Keyword(s):

Medical Treatment ◽

Hydatid Cyst ◽

Medical Therapy ◽

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Renal Involvement ◽

Hydatid Cysts ◽

Medical Treatments ◽

Case Presentation ◽

Almost All

Abstract Background Almost all cases of renal hydatid cysts need surgical intervention for treatment. We report a case of isolated renal hydatid cyst treated successfully only with medical therapy. Case presentation This case is a 79-year-old veterinarian presented with right flank pain, hydatiduria and positive echinococcus granulosus serology. A 70*50 mm cyst with daughter cysts in mid-portion of right kidney on presentation was changed into a 60*40 mm cyst without daughter cysts at last follow-up. Due to patient’s refusal of surgery, our patient received medical treatment including praziquantel and albendazole. After completion of first round of treatment, recurrence occurred and the same treatment was repeated. At last, the cyst became inactive and calcified with negative serology and no clinical symptoms under medical treatment. Conclusion The treatment of choice in renal hydatid cyst is surgery; although there are some reports about the efficacy of medical treatments for hydatid cysts but lower rates of recurrence and higher efficacy put surgery in a superior position compared to medical approaches. Our case showed relative success of medical treatment, despite the presence of a large multilocular renal involvement. Thus, medical therapy without surgery can be considered in very particular cases with isolated renal hydatid cysts.

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