Browse > Article
http://dx.doi.org/10.3340/jkns.2011.50.2.147

Cerebral Actinomycosis : Unusual Clinical and Radiological Findings of an Abscess  

Ham, Hyung-Yong (Department of Neurosurgery, Chonnam National University Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital and Medical School)
Jung, Shin (Department of Neurosurgery, Chonnam National University Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital and Medical School)
Jung, Tae-Young (Department of Neurosurgery, Chonnam National University Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital and Medical School)
Heo, Suk-Hee (Department of Radiology, Chonnam National University Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital and Medical School)
Publication Information
Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society / v.50, no.2, 2011 , pp. 147-150 More about this Journal
Abstract
We report a case of cerebral actinomycosis in a 69-year-old immunocompetent woman. The patient showed a progressive worsened mental status for one week. MRI examination showed an increased size of multiple enhancing nodular lesions associated with mild perilesional edema. We performed an open biopsy for the right frontal enhancing lesion. The intraoperative finding showed a yellowish friable lesion that was not demarcated with normal tissue. Pathologically, an actinomycotic lesion with sulfur granules and inflammatory cells was diagnosed. We report an unusual case of diffuse involvement of cerebral actinomycosis. The presence of the uncapsulated friable lesion that consisted mainly of foamy macrophages and lymphocytes could explain the unusual radiological features.
Keywords
Actinomycosis; Cerebral abscess; MR imaging;
Citations & Related Records

Times Cited By Web Of Science : 0  (Related Records In Web of Science)
Times Cited By SCOPUS : 0
연도 인용수 순위
  • Reference
1 Powers JM, Dodds HM : Primary actinomycoma of the third ventricle -- the colloid cyst. A histochemical and ultrastructural study. Acta Neuropathol 37 : 21-26, 1977   DOI   ScienceOn
2 Saindane AM, Cha S, Law M, Xue X, Knopp EA, Zagzag D : Proton MR spectroscopy of tumefactive demyelinating lesions. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 23 : 1378-1386, 2002
3 Schwartz DG, Christoff N : Actinomycosis with cerebral and probable endocardial involvement. J Mt Sinai Hosp NY 27 : 23-27, 1960
4 Smego RA Jr : Actinomycosis of the central nervous system. Rev Infect Dis 9 : 855-865, 1987   DOI
5 Smego RA Jr, Foglia G : Actinomycosis. Clin Infect Dis 26 : 1255-1261, 1998   DOI   ScienceOn
6 Wang S, Wolf RL, Woo JH, Wang J, O'Rourke DM, Roy S, et al. : Actinomycotic brain infection : registered diffusion, perfusion MR imaging and MR spectroscopy. Neuroradiology 48 : 346-350, 2006   DOI   ScienceOn
7 Wickbom GI, Davidson AJ : Angiographic findings in intracranial actinomycosis. A case report and consideration of pathogenesis. Radiology 88 : 536-537, 1967   DOI
8 Bebrova E, Lochmann O, Tichy M, Nyc O : [Actinomyces viscosus in subdural empyema.] Cesk Epidemiol Mikrobiol Immunol 43 : 21-22, 1994
9 Brown JR : Human actinomycosis. A study of 181 subjects. Hum Pathol 4 : 319-330, 1973   DOI   ScienceOn
10 Brunon J, Pialat J, Brun Y, Sindou M, Fischer C, Perrin G : Actinomycotic brain abscess. Neurochirurgie 26 : 31-38, 1980
11 Ebisu T, Tanaka C, Umeda M, Kitamura M, Naruse S, Higuchi T, et al. : Discrimination of brain abscess from necrotic or cystic tumors by diffusion-weighted echo planar imaging. Magn Reson Imaging 14 : 1113-1116, 1996   DOI   ScienceOn
12 Edwards C, Elliott WA, Randall KJ : Spinal meningitis due to Actinomyces bovis treated with penicillin and streptomycin. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 14 : 134-136, 1951   DOI
13 Al-Okaili RN, Krejza J, Wang S, Woo JH, Melhern ER : Advanced MR imaging techniques in the diagnosis of intraaxial brain tumors in adults. Radiographics 26 Suppl 1 : S173-S189, 2006   DOI
14 Guzman R, Barth A, LÖvblad KO, El-Koussy M, Weis J, Schroth G, et al. : Use of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in differentiating purulent brain processes from cystic brain tumors. J Neurosurg 97 : 1101-1107, 2002   DOI   ScienceOn
15 Adeyemi OA, Gottardi-Littell N, Muro K, Kane K, Flaherty JP : Multiple brain abscesses due to Actinomyces species. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 110 : 847-849, 2008   DOI   ScienceOn
16 Alday R, Lopez-Ferro MO, Fernandez-Guerrero M, Ruiz-Barnés P : Spinal intrarhecal empyema due to Actinomyces israeli. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 101 : 159-162, 1989   DOI