title: Multifocal noninfectious granulomatous encephalitis in a child. Case report.
abstract: This 9-year-old boy presented with a multifocal, apparently noninfectious granulomatous process involving the central nervous system. Despite gross-total excision of the large left temporal lesion, it recurred after surgery. Serological studies and cultures failed to demonstrate an infectious agent, and histopathological investigation showed a nonspecific granulomatous process without vasculitis. The patient underwent a second craniotomy and was given corticosteroid therapy. There has been no recurrence during 3 years of follow-up review, the last year of which included no course of steroid medications. The case is presented as a noninfectious idiopathic granulomatous encephalitis that is responsive to surgery and corticosteroid therapy. To the authors' knowledge, it is the first reported case of its kind.
authors.affiliation: Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia 19104, USA.
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Lasner
authors.forename: L N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Sutton
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Rorke
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000382:microbiology; D002648:Child; D006099:Granuloma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008590:Meningoencephalitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation