1/87. Systemic infection with Alaria americana (trematoda).Alaria americana is a trematode, the adult of which is found in mammalian carnivores. The first case of disseminated human infection by the mesocercarial stage of this worm occurred in a 24-year-old man. The infection possibly was acquired by the eating of inadequately cooked frogs, which are intermediate hosts of the worm. The diagnosis was made during life by lung biopsy and confirmed at autopsy. The mesocercariae were present in the stomach wall, lymph nodes, liver, myocardium, pancreas and surrounding adipose tissue, spleen, kidney, lungs, brain and spinal cord. There was no host reaction to the parasites. Granulomas were present in the stomach wall, lymph nodes and liver, but the worms were not identified in them. hypersensitivity vasculitis and a bleeding diathesis due to disseminated intravascular coagulation and a circulating anticoagulant caused his death 8 days after the onset of his illness.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = spinal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/87. Spinal aspergillus abscess in a patient with bronchocentric granulomatosis.aspergillus fumigatus hyphae is often found in the lung tissue of patients with bronchocentric granulomatosis (BCG). This organism is believed to be one agent responsible for inciting the hypersensitivity response and subsequent development of the characteristic pathology that defines BCG. The definitive etiology of this disease, however, remains conjectural. Corticosteroids represent the mainstay of therapy. The fungi recovered from patients with BCG are considered noninvasive; thus, the risk of fungal invasion secondary to steroid-induced immunosuppression is believed to be negligible. However, we report a case of spinal aspergillus abscess that developed in a patient with BCG subsequent to steroid therapy. This case also highlights the necessity for aggressive medical and neurosurgical intervention to avert the development of neurological sequelae.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = spinal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/87. MR imaging of a hemorrhagic and granulomatous cyst of the ligamentum flavum with pathologic correlation.cysts of the ligamentum flavum are uncommon causes of neurologic signs and symptoms and usually are seen in persons over 50 years of age. We report a case of an epidural cyst located in the ligamentum flavum, which contributed to spinal stenosis in a 30-year-old man. Radiologic features were similar to those of a synovial cyst, but synovium was not identified histologically. The imaging and pathologic features were unusual, including hemorrhage and a fibrohistiocytic reaction with giant cells.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = spinal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/87. Epidural Bilharzioma mansoni compressing the spinal cord: case report.A case of an epidural Bilharzioma mansoni (epidural granuloma due to Schistosoma mansoni) compressing the spinal cord at T11-T12 is presented. The patient, a 20-year old African man, started complaining of recurrent back pain since 1993 and became paraparetic in 1996. The myelography showed a complete block at T12 and the CT scan showed a mass at T11-T12 compressing the spinal cord. Through a bilateral laminectomy of T 10, T11 and T12, the bilharzioma was completely removed. The histopathology and the laboratory tests confirmed the diagnosis of granuloma due to schistosoma mansoni. The patient recovered completely and was seen last time more than one year after surgery. Not a similar case has been found in the literature and the authors presume that this is the first case ever successfully treated by surgery and chemotherapy and reported in the world literature.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 6keywords = spinal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/87. Medically treated intraspinal "brucella" granuloma.BACKGROUND: Although there have been reports of brucella granuloma or abscess in the literature, they were all localized extradurally except one, and most patients underwent surgery. CASE REPORT: A 40-year-old female presented with urinary and fecal incontinence and a two-month history of progressive weakness of the right leg and numbness of the left leg. Four months previously, she had been diagnosed with systemic brucellosis with a period of radiculomeningoencephalitis; she was treated successfully with rifampicin, doxycycline, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMZ), and streptomycin, and was discharged symptom-free on rifampicin and doxycycline. Neurological examination revealed spastic paraparesis, globally hyperactive deep tendon reflexes (DTRs) and sensory level at T6. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spinal cord revealed a 10 x 30 mm intradural-intramedullary mass lesion at the T5 level with surrounding edema that enhanced with contrast. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was xanthochromic with lymphocytic pleocytosis and elevated levels of albumin, immunoglobulins, and antibody titers for brucella. The medications were modified to rifampicin 1200 mg, doxycycline 400 mg, and TMP/SMZ 480/2400 mg daily, and methylprednisolone 100 mg in decremental doses (for 6 weeks). After 2 months, the patient was almost symptom-free and her medication doses were decreased. After 5 months, the mass lesion resolved almost completely. The treatment was discontinued after 2 years. CONCLUSIONS: The case is presented because of its uniqueness. In cases of brucella granuloma, the authors recommend a trial of medical treatment with adequate dosages for a reasonable length of time before considering surgical intervention.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 6keywords = spinal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/87. Spinal aspergillosis in nonimmunocompromised host mimicking Pott's paraplegia.The aim of this report is to highlight the less-known aspergillus spondylitis (AS) that may completely mimic Pott's paraplegia, leading to occasional but expensive diagnostic error, as the chemotherapeutic management of the two is different. A case of a patient with the diagnosis of Pott's paraplegia who turned out to have aspergillus spondylitis is described. Issues and difficulties regarding the differentiation between these two forms of spine infection and their therapeutic implications are discussed. We conclude that differential diagnosis of spinal tuberculosis (TB) should include aspergillus spondylitis, as cure of spinal aspergillosis, especially in early stages, is possible with surgery and/or antifungal agents, and morbidity and mortality are high in neglected cases.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = spinal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/87. A case of balamuthia mandrillaris meningoencephalitis.balamuthia mandrillaris is a newly described pathogen that causes granulomatous amebic encephalitis, an extremely rare clinical entity that usually occurs in immunosuppressed individuals. We report a case of pathologically proven Balamuthia encephalitis with unusual laboratory and radiologic findings. A 52-year-old woman with idiopathic seizures and a 2-year history of chronic neutropenia of unknown cause had a subacute illness with progressive lethargy, headaches, and coma and died 3 months after the onset of symptoms. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) glucose concentrations were extremely low or unmeasurable, a feature not previously described (to our knowledge). Cranial magnetic resonance imaging scans showed a single large temporal lobe nodule, followed 6 weeks later by the appearance of 18 ring-enhancing lesions in the cerebral hemispheres that disappeared after treatment with antibiotics and high-dose corticosteroids. The initial brain biopsy specimen and analysis of CSF samples did not demonstate amebae, but a second biopsy specimen and the postmortem pathologic examination showed Balamuthia trophozoites surrounded by widespread granulomatous inflammation and vasculitis. The patient's neutropenia and antibiotic use may have caused susceptibility to this organism. Amebic meningoencephalitis should be considered in cases of subacute meningoencephalitis with greatly depressed CSF glucose concentrations and multiple nodular lesions on cerebral imaging. Arch Neurol. 2000;57:1210-1212- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = spinal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/87. Treatment of severe glaucomatous visual field deficit by chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy: a prospective case study and discussion.OBJECTIVE: To discuss the case of a patient with severely reduced visual fields arising from terminal glaucomatous retinal damage and the treatment of this condition by spinal manipulation. CLINICAL FEATURES: A 25-year-old uniocular female patient with congenital glaucoma sought chiropractic treatment for spinal pain, headache, and classic migraine. Advanced optic disk cupping was present, and loss of vision was near complete. A 3-degree island of central vision and a small area of peripheral light sensitivity had remained relatively stable for 3 years after a trabeculectomy procedure that had resulted in intraocular hypotony. INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME: It was considered possible that chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy may have a positive outcome in visual performance. Before commencing chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy, an ophthalmologic examination was performed, and visual performance was monitored through a course of treatment. Immediately after the first treatment, significant visual field improvement was recorded in the remaining eye. Maximal improvement of vision was achieved after 1 week (4 treatment sessions). Total monocular visual field had increased from approximately 2% to approximately 20% of normal. Corrected central acuity had improved from 6/12 to 6/9. Independent reexamination by the patient's regular ophthalmic surgeon confirmed the results. CONCLUSION: Recovery of vision in this patient was an unexpected and remarkable outcome, raising the question of whether chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy may be of value in the management of glaucomatous visual field loss. More intensive research is required.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 9keywords = spinal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/87. candida albicans cerebral granulomas associated with a nonfunctional cerebrospinal fluid shunt: case report.OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: We report an unusual case of basal ganglia granulomas caused by candida albicans that surrounded the proximal segment of a nonfunctional cerebrospinal fluid shunt in a previously healthy patient. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 22-year-old woman had undergone ventriculoatrial cerebrospinal fluid shunt placement for posttraumatic hydrocephalus 3 years previously. One year later, a shunt revision was followed by wound dehiscence with local infection at the neck level. She received oral administration of antibiotics for 3 months until the wound closed. Twelve weeks before admission, the patient experienced pulmonary emboli. She received anticoagulants, and the distal segment of the shunt was removed. Five weeks after shunt removal, she presented with headache and left-sided hemiplegia caused by right basal ganglia inflammatory masses. INTERVENTION: A stereotactic brain biopsy was performed, and the shunt remnants were removed. Microscopically, the lesions were acutely and chronically inflamed. C. albicans grew in tissue and in shunt hardware cultures. The patient was treated with 1.1 g of intravenously administered amphotericin b and orally administered ketoconazole; she recovered completely. CONCLUSION: C. albicans brain granulomas occur rarely in immunocompetent patients. Despite the large size of the lesions and severe brain edema, the absence of an underlying disease contributed to complete resolution after shunt removal and antifungal therapy.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 6keywords = spinal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/87. Clinical diagnosis of chronic canaliculitis by 20-MHz ultrasound.The practical value of high-resolution ultrasound (transducer frequency of 20 MHz) in the study of the lacrimal canaliculi has been proven. It can also be used in the clinical diagnosis of chronic canaliculitis. If the classic symptoms are absent, the clinical diagnosis is often inaccurate, and treatment is insufficient. Representative images of normal cases and of chronic canaliculitis illustrate the potential of high-resolution ultrasound. In our patient, 20-MHz scanner images revealed pathological findings which were invisible during slitlamp examination. Ultrasonic images of chronic canaliculitis showed ectasia of the canaliculus and sulfur grains. High-resolution ultrasonic examination of the lacrimal drainage system demonstrated that the 20-MHz scanner used was able to show concrements (sulfur grains), measuring 1-2 mm in diameter. Such more reflective structures (like sulfur grains) are a pathognomonic sign of chronic canaliculitis. Our report confirms the efficiency of 20-MHz sonography in the diagnosis of canaliculitis without any side effects.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1.8547906509127keywords = canal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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