Cranial melioidosis presenting as a mass lesion or osteomyelitis.
OBJECTIVE
Melioidosis is caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei and causes multiple abscesses in different organs of the body. Cranial melioidosis, although uncommon, is sometimes confused with tuberculosis and is therefore under-recognized. The authors report on 6 cases of cranial infections caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, presenting as mass lesions or cranial osteomyelitis, and review the literature.


METHODS
The authors performed a retrospective review of the records of patients with cranial melioidosis treated at their institution between 1998 and 2005 to determine the presentation, management, and outcome of patients with this infection.


RESULTS
Of the 6 patients diagnosed with cranial melioidosis during this period, 4 had brain abscesses and 2 had cranial osteomyelitis. All patients were treated surgically, and a diagnosis was made on the basis of histopathological studies. All patients were started on antibiotic therapy following surgery and this was continued for 6 months. One patient died soon after stereotactic aspiration of a brain abscess, and the other 5 patients had good outcomes.


CONCLUSIONS
Cranial melioidosis is probably more prevalent than has been previously reported. A high index of suspicion, early diagnosis, initiation of appropriate antibiotic therapy and treatment for an adequate period are essential for assuring good outcome in patients with cranial melioidosis. The authors recommend surgery followed by intravenous ceftazidime treatment for 6 weeks and oral cotrimoxazole for 6 months thereafter in patients with cranial melioidosis.
Kumar
G Samson Sujit
GS
Department of Neurological Sciences, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India.
Raj
Promila Mohan
PM
Chacko
Geeta
G
Lalitha
Mukkai K
MK
Chacko
Ari G
AG
Rajshekhar
Vedantam
V
D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001922:Brain Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D002423:Cause of Death; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005624:Frontal Bone / Q000382:microbiology; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008554:Melioidosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010294:Parietal Bone / Q000382:microbiology; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000382:microbiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012886:Skull / Q000473:pathology*; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000382:microbiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents