Invasive fungal granuloma of the brain caused by Aspergillus fumigatus: a case report and review of the literature.
BACKGROUND
Involvement of the brain by Aspergillus fumigatus, named as invasive aspergillosis, is extremely rare. Definitive diagnosis needs isolation of the fungus from the tissue specimens and its culture. The disease is very resistant to treatment and quickly becomes fatal despite antifungal chemotherapy with AmB preparations, the drugs of choice for the infection.


METHODS
We hereby present a unique case of fungal granuloma of the brain due to A fumigatus, which was cured successfully by intensive antifungal treatment, along with a brief literature review.


CONCLUSIONS
Although it is rare, we draw the attention to the fact that early diagnostic procedures with rapid confirmation of Aspergillus infection and an early initiation of therapy are pivotal for a benign clinical course in such cases. A complete regression of the disease could be achieved with medical therapy alone with conventional AmB or liposomal AmB combined with oral itraconazole even if a total surgical excision of the lesions could not be performed in complicated cases, as in our patient.
Turgut
Mehmet
M
Department of Neurosurgery, Adnan Menderes University School of Medicine, TR-09100 Aydin, Turkey. drmturgut@yahoo.com
Ozsunar
Yelda
Y
Oncü
Serkan
S
Akyüz
Orhan
O
Ertuğrul
Mustafa B
MB
Tekin
Cengiz
C
Gültekin
Berna
B
Sakarya
Serhan
S
D000328:Adult; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006099:Granuloma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D020953:Neuroaspergillosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy