scholarly journals Unusual intracranial suppuration: illustrative cases

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (24) ◽  

BACKGROUND Intracranial suppuration (ICS) is a rare complication that can arise from various disease processes and is composed of brain abscess, extradural empyema, and subdural empyema. Although significant progress has been achieved with antibiotics, neuroimaging, and neurosurgical technique, ICS remains a serious neurosurgical emergency. An uncommon presentation of ICS is sterile ICS, which has yet to be fully elucidated by clinicians. The authors present 2 cases of unusual sterile ICS: a sterile subdural empyema and a sterile brain abscess. OBSERVATIONS Both patients underwent surgical treatment consisting of craniotomy to evacuate the pus collection. The blood cultures from both the patients, the collected empyema, and the thick capsule from the brain abscess were sterile. However, the necrotic brain tissue surrounding the abscess contained inflammatory cells. The authors’ review of the literature emphasizes the rarity of sterile ICS and substantiates the necessity for additional studies to explore this field. LESSONS Sterile ICS is a disease entity that warrants further investigation to determine appropriate treatment to improve patient outcomes. This study highlights the paucity of data available regarding sterile ICS and supports the need for future studies to uncover the etiology of sterile ICS to better guide management of this condition.

2006 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 233-235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felipe Francisco Tuon ◽  
Rachel Russo ◽  
Antonio Carlos Nicodemo

Frontal osteomyelitis is a rare complication of sinusitis. Common intracranial complications of the frontal osteomyelitis are meningitis, epidural empyema, subdural empyema and brain abscess. We described a case of frontal osteomyelitis with brain abscess caused by Staphylococcus aureus with improve after needle aspiration and antibiotics to brain abscess for eight weeks and for chronic osteomyelitis for four months.


2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (01) ◽  
pp. 036-038
Author(s):  
Rahul Varshney ◽  
Nitin Bhakal ◽  
L. Gupta ◽  
Sharad Pandey ◽  
Rajesh Sharma

AbstractPneumatocele is a very rare complication that follows head injury. Pneumatocele can result due to a craniodural fistula, formed either after a fracture involving air sinuses, roof of middle ear, or depressed fracture of skull. Gas-containing brain abscess is a life-threatening condition, which requires immediate diagnosis and prompt therapeutic intervention. The predisposing factors include hematogenous spread, contiguous infection, and abnormal fistulous communication due to head injury. This is a rare case in which the patient had a history of head trauma due to road traffic accident with frontal contusion and small pneumocephalus, which was managed conservatively 2 years earlier followed by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea after 2 months, which was also managed by nonsurgical management. He presented with intractable seizures and features of raised intracranial pressure (ICP) with imaging suggestive of air-containing cavity in frontal region (pneumatocele). Intraoperatively, there was brain abscess with dural defect for which abscess was excised, and dural repair with exteriorization of frontal sinus was done.


Author(s):  
Sara Keränen ◽  
Santeri Suutarinen ◽  
Rahul Mallick ◽  
Johanna P. Laakkonen ◽  
Diana Guo ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Brain arteriovenous malformations (bAVM) may rupture causing disability or death. BAVM vessels are characterized by abnormally high flow that in general triggers expansive vessel remodeling mediated by cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX2), the target of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. We investigated whether COX2 is expressed in bAVMs and whether it associates with inflammation and haemorrhage in these lesions. Methods Tissue was obtained from surgery of 139 bAVMs and 21 normal Circle of Willis samples. The samples were studied with immunohistochemistry and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Clinical data was collected from patient records. Results COX2 expression was found in 78% (109/139) of the bAVMs and localized to the vessels’ lumen or medial layer in 70% (95/135) of the bAVMs. Receptors for prostaglandin E2, a COX2-derived mediator of vascular remodeling, were found in the endothelial and smooth muscle cells and perivascular inflammatory cells of bAVMs. COX2 was expressed by infiltrating inflammatory cells and correlated with the extent of inflammation (r = .231, p = .007, Spearman rank correlation). COX2 expression did not associate with haemorrhage. Conclusion COX2 is induced in bAVMs, and possibly participates in the regulation of vessel wall remodelling and ongoing inflammation. Role of COX2 signalling in the pathobiology and clinical course of bAVMs merits further studies.


Viruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Andréia Veras Gonçalves ◽  
Demócrito de B. Miranda-Filho ◽  
Líbia Cristina Rocha Vilela ◽  
Regina Coeli Ferreira Ramos ◽  
Thalia V. B. de Araújo ◽  
...  

Congenital viral infections and the occurrence of septo-optic dysplasia, which is a combination of optic nerve hypoplasia, abnormal formation of structures along the midline of the brain, and pituitary hypofunction, support the biological plausibility of endocrine dysfunction in Zika-related microcephaly. In this case series we ascertained the presence and describe endocrine dysfunction in 30 children with severe Zika-related microcephaly from the MERG Pediatric Cohort, referred for endocrinological evaluation between February and August 2019. Of the 30 children, 97% had severe microcephaly. The average age at the endocrinological consultation was 41 months and 53% were female. The most frequently observed endocrine dysfunctions comprised short stature, hypothyroidism, obesity and variants early puberty. These dysfunctions occurred alone 57% or in combination 43%. We found optic nerve hypoplasia (6/21) and corpus callosum hypoplasia (20/21). Seizure crises were reported in 86% of the children. The most common—and clinically important—endocrine dysfunctions were pubertal dysfunctions, thyroid disease, growth impairment, and obesity. These dysfunctions require careful monitoring and signal the need for endocrinological evaluation in children with Zika-related microcephaly, in order to make early diagnoses and implement appropriate treatment when necessary.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 611-618
Author(s):  
Elsa Alves Branco ◽  
Raquel Duro ◽  
Teresa Brito ◽  
António Sarmento

Intra-vesical instillation of bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) is an important treatment modality of superficial bladder cancer. It is usually well tolerated, although some adverse reactions can occur. One possible yet rare complication is granulomatous hepatitis, that is thought to be caused either by BCG infection or a hypersensitivity reaction to the bacillus. We present a case of a 79-year-old apparently immunocompetent patient who developed granulomatous hepatitis a few months after BCG administration for bladder cancer immunotherapy. It is important to notice that acid-fast smears and cultures are often negative, and these should not exclude diagnosis nor delay treatment. Our case highlights the importance of clinical suspicion and prompt initiation of appropriate treatment.


Author(s):  
Wilson Bizimana ◽  
Gloria Akimana ◽  
Arthur Semedo Insumbo ◽  
Hounayda Jerguigue ◽  
Rachida Latib ◽  
...  

AbstractMalignant melanoma of vagina is a rare condition. Its histogenesis has been debated and the positive diagnosis is based on immunohistochemistry. Pelvic magnetic resonance imaging remains the gold standard for assessing locoregional extension status and post-treatment surveillance of melanoma of vagina. The observation concerned a 53-year-old woman with no specific history who presented a primary malignant melanoma of vagina without secondary locations. To date, the case is the second one reported in the literature. Early diagnosis of the malignant melanoma of vagina may improve patient survival because late diagnoses are punctuated by poor prognosis. We have presented epidemiological with etiopathogenic characteristics and described all imaging features to stage the tumor and to conduct the appropriate treatment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
pp. 3330
Author(s):  
Mehdi Eshraghi ◽  
Aida Adlimoghaddam ◽  
Amir Mahmoodzadeh ◽  
Farzaneh Sharifzad ◽  
Hamed Yasavoli-Sharahi ◽  
...  

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a debilitating neurological disorder, and currently, there is no cure for it. Several pathologic alterations have been described in the brain of AD patients, but the ultimate causative mechanisms of AD are still elusive. The classic hallmarks of AD, including am-yloid plaques (Aβ) and tau tangles (tau), are the most studied features of AD. Unfortunately, all the efforts targeting these pathologies have failed to show the desired efficacy in AD patients so far. Neuroinflammation and impaired autophagy are two other main known pathologies in AD. It has been reported that these pathologies exist in AD brain long before the emergence of any clinical manifestation of AD. Microglia are the main inflammatory cells in the brain and are considered by many researchers as the next hope for finding a viable therapeutic target in AD. Interestingly, it appears that the autophagy and mitophagy are also changed in these cells in AD. Inside the cells, autophagy and inflammation interact in a bidirectional manner. In the current review, we briefly discussed an overview on autophagy and mitophagy in AD and then provided a comprehensive discussion on the role of these pathways in microglia and their involvement in AD pathogenesis.


Dental Update ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 99-104
Author(s):  
Fiona Wright ◽  
Colin Ritchie ◽  
Nicholas J Malden ◽  
Eleni Besi

A tuberosity fracture can prevent or delay the timely delivery of the most appropriate treatment option for a maxillary molar. This is a relatively common complication, but should not prevent treatment in general practice provided the clinician has adequately risk assessed, planned and obtained informed consent. Should a fracture occur, its initial management in general practice is encouraged. This article aims to improve patient outcomes by providing a troubleshooting guide. A fracture classification is suggested to aid assessment, recognition and management. Should referral to secondary care be required, a classification system will provide a basis for discussion and clarity on further management. CPD/Clinical Relevance: This article provides a tuberosity fracture classification to guide clinicians in the management of patients who have sustained such a fracture.


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