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Background: Brain abscess are uncommon childhood infection. Brain abscess caused by Panton-Valentine Leukocidin positive Community acquired Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcal aureus have never been reported in the United Kingdom., Case Presentation: We report a case of a previously well 11-month old boy of Indian origin who developed a parietal lobe abscess from PVL positive CA-MRSA., Conclusion: This case is one of the few described cases of brain abscess caused by PVL CA-MRSA in children. The unusual (insidious) presentation, the absence of a clear staphylococcal focus and the unexpected finding of a CA-MRSA in this patient highlight the challenges of managing such cases in clinical settings and the potential future risk to public health.

Nocardia cerebral abscesses are rare intracranial lesions. They account for only 1% to 2% of all brain abscesses. They are important in immunocompromised patients, but rarely occur in immunocompetent hosts. Here, we present a case of multiple primary brain abscesses with Nocardia in an immunocompetent patient, who was treated successfully with oral antibiotic therapy.

Craniocerebral maduromycetoma is extremely rare; only 2 cases have been reported so far. The authors report a case of maduromycetoma in a 17-year-old girl from a rural background in the state of Rajasthan, India, with involvement of the right parietal cortex, overlying bone, and subcutaneous tissue. The mass was totally excised, along with the involved dura mater, bone, and scalp. She was given antifungal drugs in the postoperative period. The patient responded very well to the treatment, and there were no signs of recurrence at the 6-month follow-up visit. The clinical features, imaging and histopathological investigations, and management of this rare entity are discussed, and the available literature is reviewed.

Differentiating a pyogenic cerebral abscess from a cystic brain tumor can be a challenge when using morphological and functional imaging techniques. Several studies on MRI perfusion-weighted imaging (PWI) have demonstrated that enhancing abscess capsules have lower cerebral blood volume ratios (rCBV) than the enhancing rims of necrotic tumors. We report a 67-year-old male with a Nocardia cerebral abscess showing restricted diffusion in the necrotic center, but high values for rCBV in the enhancing capsule on PWI, therefore mimicking a high-grade necrotic tumor. Differential diagnosis between cerebral abscesses and necrotic tumors is greatly improved by the adjunct of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and PWI to the morphological magnetic resonance findings; yet there is still overlap. That an abscess may show increased rCBV along the capsule, therefore mimicking a hypervascular brain tumor on PWI, should be considered when attempting a radiological diagnosis of a ring-enhancing brain lesion., (Copyright 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Intracranial fungal masses are uncommon diseases, but their incidence is increasing, most often due to the prolonged survival of patients with different immunodeficiencies. The management of patients with intracranial fungal masses included stereotactic biopsy for diagnosis, partial or radical surgery excision and prolonged antifungal therapy., Aims: We report the case of a 51-year-old diabetic man with a history of psoas abscess due to Candida albicans 1 year before the onset of neurological symptoms, including headache and generalized tonoclonic seizures., Methods: Magnetic resonance imaging showed a single lesion located in the right parietal lobe with mass effect, surrounding edema and enhancement after injection of gadolinium. The material was purulent., Results: Direct microscopic examination showed hyaline, branched and septate hyphae compatible with fungal elements., Conclusions: Fungal infections, especially due to Candida species, should be considered in diabetic patients with parenchymal brain abscesses. Radical excision followed by prolonged antifungal therapy based on fluconazole or amphotericin B is necessary to improve the prognosis of this type of patients., (2009 Revista Iberoamericana de Micología. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.)

Object: 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.

An unusual case of a giant (8 x 6 x 6 cm) frontoparietal SDE of Streptococcus pneumoniae in a 17-month-old child is reported. The initial diagnosis was made with emergency CT. The purulent material was removed via a frontoparietal craniotomy. A series of postoperative MR imaging showed the gradual reduction in size of the lesion, although collapsed capsule, fibrous thickening of meningeal structures and associated displacement of the underlying brain persisted. The child was symptom-free in a follow-up period of 15 months. This case showed that SDE may reach a giant size and thus may mimic an intra-axial lesion; the coronal MR imaging is a more reliable diagnostic tool than the emergency axial CT in giant SDE of upper convexity localization, and the clinical improvement may be more impressive than the radiological changes.

A 71-year-old male presented with left hemiparesis and confused conversation. Computed tomography showed a mass lesion with rim enhancement in the right parietal lobe. He developed meningeal irritation the day after admission. Emergent fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging revealed a clear hyperintense component in the right lateral ventricle and niveau formation inside the intracerebral lesion, indicating intraventricular rupture of the brain abscess. The patient underwent aspiration of the abscess and ventricular drainage with antibiotic administration. Nocardia asteroides was isolated from the aspirated pus, so systemic and direct administration of effective antibiotics was subsequently commenced. These procedures resulted in gradual improvement of his clinical course, and he left our hospital. Several days after discharge, he developed acute pan-peritonitis due to malignant lymphoma. He appeared to be progressively deteriorating after an exploratory laparotomy, and died on the 17th day after the laparotomy. Intraventricular rupture of nocardia brain abscess can be successfully treated after early definitive diagnosis with FLAIR MR imaging.

We describe a rare case of Histoplasma infection, which manifested only as a brain histoplasmoma, in a previously healthy woman who had no underlying predisposing conditions. Only a few cases of such intracranial histoplasmomas have been reported but this entity can mimic a brain neoplasm and should be a diagnostic consideration during the evaluation of ring-enhancing brain lesions.

We report two cases of brain abscesses caused by Ramichloridium mackenziei, a neurotropic dematiaceous fungus that seems to be geographically restricted to the Middle East. One of the patients had chronic myelomonocytic leukemia but did not receive any chemotherapeutic agents. The other patient was a normal host. Both cases had a fatal outcome despite aggressive antifungal therapy and surgical intervention. Herein, we review all previously described cases in the literature, and discuss the epidemiology, mycology and histopathology of this life-threatening organism.

Introduction: In the literature there are sporadic reports of spinal epidural abscesses after epidural anaesthesia (Staphylococcus aureus in 82%), whilst subdural empyemas are more often related to ear and sinus conditions., Clinical Case: A 32 year old woman with a clinical history of migraine and symmetrical frontal atrophy on a previous cerebral CT scan, after Caesarean section under epidural anaesthesia, presented with orthostatic headache two days later. On the fourth day it had become constant and she had a high temperature which was considered to be caused by infection of the surgical wound. Neurological examination was found to be normal, the CT scan was inconclusive and the CSF showed a lymphocytic pleocytosis without consumption of glucose. In view of her worsening clinical condition on the ninth day, in the absence of a cutaneous focus and on suspicion of a para-meningeal infective focus, lumbar MR was done and found to be normal, and cerebral MR which showed images compatible with a right fronto-parietal subdural empyema. After a parietal craniotomy and culture of the surgical specimen, colonies of Mycoplasma hominis were grown, similar to those grown from the exudates of the abdomical surgical wound. Treatment was started with ciprofloxacine., Conclusion: We consider that following epidural anaesthesia the patient developed hypotension of the CSF with a secondary subdural hematoma or hygroma and this became infected by hematogenous spread of Mycoplasma hominis.

We report the coexistence of aspirated foreign bodies and brain abscess in two boys. One child had aspirated a metallic needle, and in the other boy partially embedded sunflower seeds were found in the bronchial wall. Both patients had growth of Eikenella corrodens (oral gram-negative flora) from the abscess. Aspirated foreign body in the respiratory tract should be one of the diagnostic considerations if any of the normal oropharyngeal organisms such as E. corrodens is the causative organism of brain abscess.

A case history and brief literature review of cerebral abscess related to dental therapy is presented. The 19-year-old male patient presented with a cerebral abscess caused by Actinobacillus actinomycetamcomitans. He was otherwise healthy, and had a recent history of periodontal surgery prior to the onset of symptoms. The patient was treated successfully with stereotactic aspiration and antibiotics.

Brain abscesses are classical complications of congenital heart disease (CHD) in children and adolescents. This association is rarely observed in adults. We report a 46-year-old man presenting a fronto-parietal abscess associated with an asymptomatic atrial septal defect. Positron emission tomography (PET) study revealed high uptake of L-[methyl-11C]methionine ([11C]methionine) and 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) around the brain abscess. We suggest (1) to exclude a silent cardiac malformation in the presence of a cerebral abscess of unknown source occurring in adults; (2) to consider the diagnosis of brain abscess in cases of high uptake of [11C]methionine and FDG in relation to a brain lesion.

The putative role of nitric oxide in the neuropathogenesis of Borna disease was investigated by determining changes in the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA and constitutively expressed NOS (cNOS) mRNA in brains of Borna disease virus (BDV)-infected rats. iNOS mRNA was not detected in normal rat brain but was identified in BDV-infected brain at 14 days postinfection (p.i.), reaching maximum levels at 21 days p.i., when neurological signs and inflammatory reactions in the brain were also at a peak. cNOS mRNA was expressed in both normal brain and infected brain, increasing markedly at 17 days p.i. and reaching a peak at 21 days p.i. In situ hybridization analysis revealed iNOS mRNA in some, but not all, BDV-infected regions of the brain, particularly in the basolateral cortex and the hippocampus. iNOS-positive cells, as identified immunohistologically, were preferentially localized in perivascular areas of the hippocampus and in outer cortical layers. These iNOS-positive cells resembled monocytes/macrophages in morphology and distribution pattern but were significantly fewer. The correlation of iNOS and cNOS mRNA expression with the development of neurological disease, as well as the enhanced expression of iNOS within brain regions with inflammatory lesions, strongly suggests that NO may contribute to pathogenesis of Borna disease.

A 52-year-old man with probable allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) was treated with adrenal corticosteroids. He subsequently developed central nervous system aspergillosis that was treated successfully with surgery and amphotericin B. Invasive aspergillosis is a rare complication following steroid therapy for ABPA.

In a retrospective study of two patients from Slovakia with clinical, virological and histopathological diagnosis of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), measles virus antigen was detected by immunocytochemical labelling studies. The formalin fixed, paraffin-embedded thin brain sections labelled with anti-measles antibodies and avidin-biotin complex peroxidase were counterstained with haematoxylin. Only a single area of brain was examined in each patient: cerebellum and parietal lobe. Viral antigen positive reaction was identified within Purkinje cells and extending along dendritic processes in cerebellum, and also in oligodendrocytes of subparietal white matter.