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Query: UMLS:C0036572 (seizures)
 80,221 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Cerebral aspergillosis is one of the most common mycotic infections in the central nervous system causing different clinical features such as brain abscess, granuloma, meningitis, and encephalitis. Cerebral aspergillosis, however, may lead to a cerebral vascular accident such as intracranial hemorrhage or cerebral infarction. In this report, we present two patients with cerebral aspergillosis accompanied by intracranial hemorrhage. A total of 124 reported cases of cerebral aspergillosis are reviewed to ascertain the pathogenesis of the associated vascular lesion. The first patient was a 9-year-old girl, who developed drowsiness with a headache during the medical treatment for acute myelocytic leukemia. CT disclosed subarachnoid and intraventricular hemorrhage. The autopsy revealed that the aspergillus arteritis was the cause of repeated hemorrhage. The second patient was a 15-year-old boy with allergic purpura and renal failure, who suddenly developed a stupor with convulsive seizure. CT disclosed an intracerebral hemorrhage in the right parieto-occipital area. The patient gradually deteriorated and died in spite of the surgical removal of the hematoma. The autopsy revealed that the hemorrhage was caused by the aspergillus arteritis. Cerebral aspergillosis has two routes of infection to the central nervous system: hematogenous dissemination from the distant site (usually the lung) and direct extension from the contiguous site (usually the paranasal sinuses or orbit). The primary mechanism of neuropathology is different between these two types. Primary cerebral arteritis is most often seen in patients with the former type, whereas primary basal meningitis occurs in the latter. The incidence of clinico-pathological features is different between hematogenous dissemination type and direct extension type.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:[Cerebral aspergillosis as a cerebral vascular accident]. 339 19

Cerebral aspergillosis currently occurs most frequently with disseminated aspergillosis in immunocompromised hosts. Twelve patients with cerebral aspergillosis in this setting were seen over 10 years. Underlying illnesses were renal transplantation in six cases and one case each of subacute hepatic necrosis, head trauma, glioblastoma, microglioma, and esthesioneuroblastoma. All patients were receiving high dose steroid therapy except one who had ectopic ACTH syndrome. Eleven patients were receiving broad spectrum antibiotics. All patients were febrile and developed progressive pulmonary infiltrates preceding or coincident with neurologic symptoms. Sudden onset of neurologic deficits or seizures occurred in nine of 11 clinically analyzable cases. Brainstem or cerebellar signs and symptoms were a presenting feature in three cases and were eventually seen in five cases. Cranial computerized tomography in four cases showed low absorption areas with minimal enhancement and little mass effect. Neurologic deterioration was rapid with nine of 11 patients dying within 6 days of onset. Neuropathologic examination showed multiple abscess formation in 11 cases and prominent blood vessel invasion in all cases. The sudden onset of stroke-like deficits and brainstem findings in a febrile immunocompromised host with pulmonary infiltrates suggests the diagnosis of cerebral aspergillosis. Two cases of aspergillus meningitis were also seen, one postoperatively.
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PMID:Aspergillosis of the nervous system. 720 Feb 4

Cerebral aspergillosis is a rare cause of brain expansive lesion in AIDS patients. We report the first culture-proven case of brain abscess due to Aspergillus fumigatus in a Brazilian AIDS patient. The patient, a 26 year-old male with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and history of pulmonary tuberculosis and cerebral toxoplasmosis, had fever, cough, dyspnea, and two episodes of seizures. The brain computerized tomography (CT) showed a bi-parietal and parasagittal hypodense lesion with peripheral enhancement, and significant mass effect. There was started anti-Toxoplasma treatment. Three weeks later, the patient presented mental confusion, and a new brain CT evidenced increase in the lesion. He underwent brain biopsy, draining 10 mL of purulent material. The direct mycological examination revealed septated and hyaline hyphae. There was started amphotericin B deoxycholate. The culture of the material demonstrated presence of the Aspergillus fumigatus. The following two months, the patient was submitted to three surgeries, with insertion of drainage catheter and administration of amphotericin B intralesional. Three months after hospital admission, his neurological condition suffered discrete changes. However, he died due to intrahospital pneumonia. Brain abscess caused by Aspergillus fumigatus must be considered in the differential diagnosis of the brain expansive lesions in AIDS patients in Brazil.
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PMID:Cerebral aspergillosis due to Aspergillus fumigatus in AIDS patient: first culture-proven case reported in Brazil. 1602 Dec 91