Aspiration cytology of brain abscess from a fatal case of cerebral phaeohyphomycosis due to Ramichloridium mackenziei.
Ramichloridium mackenziei is a dematiaceous fungus that usually causes cerebral phaeohyphomycosis. We describe the aspiration cytology findings of a case of cerebral abscess caused by R. mackenziei in a 66-yr-old Saudi woman who had a long standing history of diabetes mellitus and a recent diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus. She was on long-term corticosteroid therapy. The patient developed rapidly progressive multiple brain abscesses and died despite aspiration of the abscess and administration of intravenous amphotericin B lipid complex and voriconazole.
Amr
Samir S
SS
Pathology Services Division, Dhahran Health Center, Saudi Aramco Medical Services Organization, Saudi Aramco, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. samir.amr@aramco.com
Al-Tawfiq
Jaffar A
JA
D000368:Aged; D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001203:Ascomycota / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001922:Brain Abscess / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D020314:Central Nervous System Fungal Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014230:Triazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D065819:Voriconazole
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D011743:Pyrimidines; D014230:Triazoles; D000666:Amphotericin B; D065819:Voriconazole