Cerebral aspergillosis presenting as a mass lesion.
Fungal infections of the central nervous system (CNS) are almost always a surprising finding. Their presentation is usually subtle, often without any diagnostic characteristics, and they are frequently mistaken for pyogenic abscesses, or brain tumors. Aspergillosis of the central nervous system is an uncommon infection, mainly occurring in immunocompromised patients. It may present in several forms, including meningitis, mycotic aneurysms, infarcts and a tumoral form. We report an intracranial granuloma due to Aspergillus fumigatus involving the anterior cranial fossa and the frontal lobe. The clinical symptoms began one year before admission. Final diagnosis was made after craniotomy. The patient was treated with an extensive excision of the cerebral mass and medical antifungal therapy (intravenous amphotericin B), but she failed to respond to these treatments and died.
Azarpira
Negar
N
Transplant Research Center, Department of Pathology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. negarazarpira@yahoo.com
Esfandiari
Majid
M
Bagheri
Mohamad Hadi
MH
Rakei
Sed
S
Salari
Soheila
S
D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D003399:Craniotomy; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D020953:Neuroaspergillosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D000666:Amphotericin B