Vertebral cryptococcosis simulating tuberculosis

Infection with the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans is seen predominantly in two forms: (a) pulmonary and (b) cerebromeningeal. Skeletal cryptococcosis is uncommon. There have been only occasional case reports of thoracic vertebral cryptococcosis presenting as cord compression. A young female had cervical lymphadenopathy diagnosed as tuberculosis by fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and was on antitubercular therapy (ATT) for 5 months. She developed rapidly progressive paraparesis and imaging demonstrated a destructive vertebral body lesion involving T2-3 with a paraspinal abscess producing cord compression. A costotransversectomy with excision of the diseased bone and bone grafting was done. Histopathological examination revealed cryptococcosis. The patient was put on antifungal medication, but expired 2 weeks after surgery. Radiological, magnetic resonance imaging and surgical finding of vertebral cryptococcosis can mimic tuberculosis. The definite diagnosis of cryptococcosis depends upon microscopic identification of the organism. A high index of suspicion leading to early surgical confirmation and institution of anti fungal therapy is necessary to reduce the mortality and morbidity.     

A case of cerebral cryptococcosis, with special reference to computerized tomography findings

A case of cryptococcosis simulating brain tumor was reviewed. A 66-year-old female was admitted to our hospital with chief complaint of vertigo, gait disturbance and dysarthria. These symptoms started about one year before admission and worsened. Vomiting and urinary incontinence appeared. Neurological examination revealed left cerebellar ataxia and dysarthria. In plain CT (computerized tomography) irregular ill-defined low density area was noted in the cerebellar vermis and bilateral cerebellar hemispheres. And slight ventricular dilatation was found. Irregular shape of ring-like enhancement corresponding to capsule and patchy or mottled enhancement inside the tumor were seen. Suboccipital craniectomy was performed and yellowish necrotic tumor with hard capsule was removed. Histological diagnosis was not neoplasm or tuberculoma. Postoperatively liver function progressively worsened. She died due to disseminated intravascular coagulation. Autopsy revealed typical liver cirrhosis without malignant change. 3.0 X 2.5 cm sized, slightly hard, yellowish lesion was found on upper part of cerebellar hemispheres. This had extremely necrotic tissue and a great number of cryptococcus neoformans were found. And other intracranial lesion was not confirmed. Finding of pulmonary cryptococcosis was not gained. Our case is very rare because of solitary cerebellar abscess and absence of meningitic episode or pulmonary cryptococcosis. There are three types of inflammation in cerebral cryptococcosis. The commonest manifestation is the meningitic type, the second mode is granulomatous lesion and the third and the least presentation is intracranial abscess formation. CT reveals various findings according to clinical stage. CT findings are those of meningitis, meningoencephalitis, granuloma and abscess. Cryptococcal granuloma or abscess often simulates brain abscess, glioma and metastatic brain tumor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Bilateral Psoas Abscess and Extensive Soft Tissue Involvement Due to Late Presentation of Pott’s Disease of the Spine

Pott's disease of the spine with psoas abscess is currently rare form of Extra- pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in the developed countries, however it is still seen in areas where TB is endemic. We describe a rare case if not the first (according to our knowledge) of bilateral ruptured psoas abscess with extensive tissue necrosis and pelvic organs exposure with limited neurological deficit presented late in young girl. In this case Pott's disease was associated with extensive tissue necrosis exposing pubic bones, urinary bladder and psoas muscle.     

Non-tuberculous cold abscess of the psoas muscle – an unusual manifestation of colocutaneous fistula

We report here a case of colocutaneous fistula drained from the retroperitoneal space mimicking a cold abscess of the psoas muscle. A 60-year-old diabetic woman with a 6-year history of a chronic draining sinus over her right thigh had been treated intermittently with antibiotics. At presentation, she had no systemic toxic signs nor other constitutional symptoms. The patient was inadequately managed by curettage at first under the tentative diagnosis of tuberculous cold abscess. After the correct diagnosis of colocutaneous fistula, right nephrectomy and right hemicolectomy with ileotransverse colostomy were done. The patient was well 5 years later without recurrence. This is an atypical presentation of enterocutaneous fistula in an immunodeficient patient that should be emphasized to facilitate the correct diagnosis and early treatment.     

A case of extra-anatomic bypass for ruptured thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm with tuberculosis]

Now aneurysmectomy and graft replacement is the most popular surgical method of aortic aneurysm, but there are many opinions about surgical methods and assist circulation for emergency operation of ruptured aortic aneurysm. We experienced the case of ruptured thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm with tuberculosis, and rescued the patient by extra-anatomic bypass (EAB). A 60-year-old woman, who had been treated with tuberculosis for about 40 years, was operated on for cold abscess of her left psoas muscle by other orthopedic surgeons. At that time, massive bleeding happened, and she was transferred to us under diagnosis of ruptured thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm. EAB, as emergency operation, was done because we considered it was dirty and dangerous to replace the prosthesis beside the abscess. The postoperative course was almost uneventful except the evidence of Gaffky's first stage. We considered EAB was an useful method for emergency cases and some infectious aortic aneurysms.     

Massive pulmonary gas embolism in a neonate with ileal atresia and meconium peritonitis

We presented the case of a neonate with portal venous gas and pulmonary gas embolism. The patient presented with severe respiratory distress and abdominal distension 12 hours after birth. An ultrasound revealed intravascular microbubbles moving into a pulmonary artery that were traveling from the portal venous system through a ductus venosus. Additional clinical observations were hypotension and a sudden decrease in end-tidal carbon dioxide with a markedly discrepant high Pco₂, indicating a massive pulmonary gas embolism. Operative findings revealed congenital ileal atresia and meconium peritonitis with abscess. Gas-forming Escherichia coli was recovered from the abscess contents. The patient had respiratory distress, shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and intractable diarrhea but eventually recovered and was discharged on the 131st postoperative day.     

Donor-derived tuberculosis in an anesthetist after short-term exposure

We report a case of a 27-year-old anesthetist who acquired tuberculosis (TB) while performing general anesthesia in a renal transplant (RTX) patient who had donor-derived contagious TB. The anesthetist developed pleural TB 6 months after exposure. Contact investigations (CIs) did not include health care workers (HCWs) of the Department of Anesthesiology, thereby missing the opportunity for the early diagnosis and treatment of TB. Genomic fingerprinting revealed identical Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MT) isolates in the anesthetist and in the RTX patient. The recipient had acquired disseminated TB from the harvested renal graft. The donor (liver and kidneys), a 67-year-old immigrant, had died from brain death by cerebral herniation after a stroke. She had been treated for tuberculosis with a pneumectomy 40 years ago. Since that time, she had been suffering from latent tuberculous infection (TBI), but had been considered to have been cured.     

Disseminated nocardiosis masquerading as abdominal tuberculosis

A 32-year-old patient was admitted with a community-acquired pneumonia. She had clinical evidence of AIDS and chest X-ray features consistent with pulmonary tuberculosis. While in the ward she developed an acute abdomen necessitating laparotomy, at which a diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis was made. Sputum and intraoperative pus specimens grew a multiresistant Nocardia brasiliensis. Microbiological investigations for tuberculosis were negative. The patient died after a short ICU admission from multiple organ dysfunction syndrome.     

后路脊柱固定联合双侧经腹膜外病灶清除术治疗腰骶椎结核

目的探讨后路脊柱固定联合双侧经腹膜外病灶清除术治疗腰骶椎结核的临床疗效。方法2000年3月-2005年2月，采用后路脊柱固定、双侧经腹膜外病灶清除术治疗16例椎体结核患者。男11例，女5例；年龄21～56岁。结核部位：L3 4例，L4 6例，L5 4例，S1 2例。其中累及3个椎体1例，跳跃病变1例。病程6个月～6年，平均13个月。16例血沉平均40mm／h；14例WBC正常，2例稍高。X线片检查示5例椎间隙破坏变窄，7例出现病椎压缩，1例相邻2个椎体破坏严重，残余骨质嵌插重叠；16例均可见双侧腰大肌脓肿。16例CT扫描可见椎体骨质破坏、脓肿形成及数量不等的死骨。11例MRI显示椎体破坏、脓肿形成并流注到腰大肌内。患者术后进行常规抗痨治疗。结果1例术后1个月切口裂开，经对症处理后愈合；余患者切口均Ⅰ期愈合。患者获随访2～5年，平均29个月。术后即出现双大腿麻木3例，足背伸无力1例，大小便失禁1例，未作特殊处理，2周后均恢复正常；1例出现腹股沟斜疝，未作处理：6例出现视物模糊、眼睛干涩等：2例出现听力障碍，调整用药后恢复；1例再次出现低热、腰痛，卧床3个月并调整延长应用抗痨药物后痊愈。余患者均无复发。血沉均恢复正常，随访末期X线片示腰椎、腰骶椎获骨性融合13例，后凸畸形1例，椎体间形成骨桥2例。结论一次手术完成后路脊柱固定、双侧经腹膜外病灶清除术治疗腰骶椎结核有较高的安全性、可行性，可减少手术次数、缩短治疗周期、降低治疗费用、提高治疗效果。     

ACUTE OSTEOMYELITIS OF THE SPINE WITH PARAPLEGIA

A case is reported of acute osteomyelitis of the lumbar spine presenting with a psoas abscess which extended into the epidural space mimicking an epidural abscess. The patient also had severe septicaemia and a complete cauda equina lesion. The septicaemia was controlled by draining the abscess by an anterior approach to the lumbar spine. Decompression of the cord was achieved by removing the sequestrated discs, the necrotic body of the fourth lumbar vertebra and draining the epidural abscess by opening the posterior longitudinal ligament.     

Multicentric tuberculosis at two rare sites in an immunocompetent adult

The case of a 20-year-old female who presented with refractory coccydynia and sternal pain is described. She was immunocompetent, and had no systemic features. She was diagnosed with tuberculosis of the sternal and coccygeal regions based on magnetic resonance imaging and histopathology of biopsy specimens. Conservative management with oral multidrug antituberculous therapy completely cured the patient, and she had not suffered any recurrence after three years of follow-up. This case highlights the possibility of the multicentric presentation of tuberculosis at two rare sites in the same immunocompetent patient, even though the differential diagnosis was coccydynia.     

Salmonella osteomyelitis of multiple ribs and thoracic vertebra with large psoas muscle abscesses

Backgroud contextSalmonella vertebral osteomyelitis is a well-known complication of sickle cell disease. However, it has been infrequently reported in immunologically normal people or diabetic patients.PurposeTo report a case of Salmonella vertebral osteomyelitis in a diabetic patient with multiple rib infections, large bilateral psoas muscle abscesses, and pleural effusion.Study design/settingCase report.MethodsA case of Salmonella vertebral osteomyelitis is reported in a 42-year-old man with diabetes. The patient had multiple rib and T12 vertebral infections with pleural effusion and large bilateral psoas muscle abscesses. The adjacent discs were intact.ResultsDiagnosis was made by computed tomography–guided psoas muscle abscess drainage and aspirate culture. Appropriate antibiotic treatment resulted in a favorable outcome. The patient had mild back pain with a 38° residual kyphosis at his thoracolumbar junction after treatment.ConclusionsVertebral osteomyelitis caused by Salmonella is uncommon in diabetic patients. Salmonella can cause multiple bone infections and large abscesses of psoas muscles in patients without sickle cell disease. Correct diagnosis can be confirmed by blood, biopsy, or abscess culture. Appropriate antibiotic treatment was effective.     

An adult patient with Kabuki syndrome presenting with Henoch-Schönlein purpura complicated with pulmonary hemorrhage

We present a case of a 33-year-old woman with Kabuki syndrome (KS) presenting with Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP). She was admitted to our hospital with a brain abscess in the lateral ventricle and meningitis. She had been diagnosed with KS. Skin eruptions had appeared on her lower extremities, with arthralgia, cough, and hemoptysis. She suddenly developed pulmonary hemorrhage and respiratory failure. We intubated her trachea and started mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit (ICU). Skin biopsy revealed leukocytoclastic vasculitis with granular depositions of immunoglobulin A (IgA) in dermal vessel walls, and she was diagnosed as having HSP. Supportive management and prednisolone at 20 mg·day^?1 cured the pulmonary hemorrhage and respiratory failure. On ICU day 27, she was weaned from mechanical ventilation. Pulmonary hemorrhage as a complication of HSP is rare and sometimes fatal. KS is often associated with an increased incidence of infection and congenital heart disease. Susceptibility to infection and pulmonary hypertension due to congenital heart disease in this patient may have led to the development of the pulmonary hemorrhage. Supportive care and steroid therapy appeared to be beneficial in the treatment of this patient with HSP with pulmonary hemorrhage.     

Pyothorax-associated lymphoma: complete remission achieved by chemotherapy alone

We present the case of a patient with malignant lymphoma resulting from chronic pyothorax after artificial pneumothorax for pulmonary tuberculosis. The 81-year-old female patient had a medical history of artificial pneumothorax from left pulmonary tuberculosis when she was 23 years old and subsequent chronic pyothorax. She had become aware of pain in the left back from October 2008. Chest computed tomography revealed a tumor measuring 61 mm × 27 mm behind the left sixth and seventh ribs. After biopsy revealed pyothorax-associated lymphoma, 4 courses of R-CHOP therapy were administered, leading to complete remission. No recurrences were noted during follow-up over a 4-year period after the initiation of therapy.     

Vertebral osteomyelitis, epidural and psoas abscess after epidural catheter use

We report on a patient who developed persistent low back pain, pyrexia and neurological deficit soon after she underwent a laparotomy under combined general and epidural anaesthesia. The diagnosis of lumbar vertebral osteomyelitis, discitis, epidural and psoas abscesses was made one month later when she was referred to our institution. The patient was successfully treated with posterior decompression, drainage of the epidural abscess and fusion in combination with percutaneous, computed tomography-guided needle aspiration of the psoas abscesses.     

A case of necrotizing glomerulonephritis presenting with nephrotic syndrome associated with pulmonary cryptococcosis

We describe a 68-year-old man with necrotizing glomerulonephritis who presented with nephrotic syndrome accompanied by pulmonary cryptococcosis. He developed rheumatoid arthritis in July 1999 and was treated with low-dose prednisolone. He was admitted to our hospital on November 22 following the appearance of bilateral leg edema in October 2000. Laboratory tests at presentation revealed nephrotic syndrome with renal impairment. Renal biopsy specimens revealed necrotizing glomerulonephritis with crescent, but immunofluorescence study showed lack of staining for immunoglobulins or complement components. Chest X-ray and CT showed abnormal shadows in the right upper lung field, and Cryptococcus neoformans was isolated in a transbronchial lung biopsy. After the diagnosis of pulmonary cryptococcosis was made, the patient was treated with 200mg/day fluconazole. The pulmonary abnormal shadows immediately improved and urinary protein excretion dramatically decreased. A second renal biopsy, performed about 2 months after the first biopsy, showed disappearance of crescent. Electron microscopic examination of the second renal biopsy showed partial effacement of foot processes without electron-dense deposits. Our findings suggest that necrotizing glomerulonephritis with nephrotic syndrome in this patient represented pauci-immune T-cell-mediated injury related to pulmonary cryptococcosis.     

Psoasabszesse

BACKGROUND: A psoas abscess is a rarely encountered entity with various etiologies and nonspecific clinical presentation, frequently resulting in delayed diagnosis, increased morbidity, and prolonged or recurrent hospitalization. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 1996 and January 2002 we treated ten patients (approximately 54.8, 5 males,5 females). These cases were analyzed retrospectively relative to a review of the literature. RESULTS: CT scanning was decisive in the final diagnosis of psoas abscess. Primary psoas abscess occurred in four cases and six patients had secondary abscesses. In all except one case, the psoas abscess was located on the right side. The causes of primary abscesses were retroperitoneal perforated appendicitis, paravertebral injections for lumboischialgia, Pott's disease, and repeated intravenous drug application in the groin. Five patients underwent retroperitoneal open drainage and four patients CT-guided drainage. One patient with retroperitoneal perforated appendicitis was treated by laparotomy. Staphylococcus aureus, Bacteroides fragilis, and Escherichia coli were the most common infective agents. There was no postoperative mortality and no cases of abscess recurred. CONCLUSIONS: CT scan is a diagnostic "gold standard" for psoas abscess. CT-guided drainage is the method of first choice, but is not possible in all cases. Open retroperitoneal drainage is a standard method of treatment. Postoperative antibiotic therapy is obligatory and should be adapted individually.     

A case of fungal sepsis due to aspergillus spondylitis followed by cytomegalovirus infection in a renal transplant recipient

Although advances in immunosuppressive therapy have led to increased survival of renal transplant recipients, there are greater risks of developing infectious complications. Because of its rarity and the lack of medical awareness, aspergillus spondylitis is often misdiagnosed as tuberculous spondylitis, especially in its early stages. We report a case of aspergillus spondylitis in a renal transplant followed by cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis. CASE: A 59-year-old woman was admitted due to general weakness and abdominal discomfort. She had undergone renal transplantation 3 years previously. One month before admission, she was diagnosed with CMV retinitis and treated with IV ganciclovir. On admission, she suffered from lower abdominal pain. Colonoscopy revealed multiple circular or patchy ulcers with surrounding severe mucosal edema in the sigmoid colon findings consistent with intestinal tuberculosis. On hospital day 30, she complained of lower extremity paresthesia and weakness. An MRI of the spine revealed a well-demarcated paraspinal mass around the L2-4 body; tuberculous spondylitis was initially considered. But despite antituberculosis medication, the patient progressed to spastic paraparesis and sensory changes in both lower legs, requiring urgent surgical decompression. At hospital day 60, she suffered persistent fever and developed thrombocytopenia. Wound discharge continued and paraparesis became denser. A CT of the spine showed progression of the paraspinal abscess from the L2 body to the iliac crest. CT-guided psoas muscle drainage was performed. Fungal culture showed Aspergillus species. Despite antifungal therapy, the patient died after a prolonged hospital stay due to fungal sepsis and septic shock from aspergillosis.     

A study on clinical findings and surgical treatment of pulmonary mycosis

Between 1974 and 1987, 14 patients (10 male and 4 female) underwent thoracotomy for treatment of pulmonary mycosis. They were studied on their clinical findings and surgical treatment. The median age was 48 years (range 19 to 71 years). Fourteen cases consisted of 9 aspergillosis and 5 cryptococcosis. None of them was either debilitated or immunosuppressed before falling ill. Five of the 14 patients had other pulmonary disease and 11 had symptoms; i.e. hemoptysis or bloody sputum in 4 cases, chest pain in 3, fever in 3, cough and sputum in 2. Nine aspergillosis consisted of 4 aspergilloma, 3 aspergillus pneumonia and 2 aspergillus empyema. Three cases of aspergillosis occurred in preexisting cavity. Five cryptococcosis consisted of 3 pseudotumorous, 1 disseminated small nodular, and 1 infiltrative types. Preoperative diagnosis was as follows; pulmonary mycosis 5, pulmonary tuberculosis 4, lung cancer 3, empyema 1 and hydropneumothorax 1. Four patients underwent partial resection, 8 lobectomy, 1 pneumonectomy, 1 muscle prombage and thoracoplasty. The prognosis is satisfactory. All patients are alive and has no recurrence. On histopathological examination, in aspergilloma cases, invasion of aspergillus to surrounding lung tissue was not seen. In addition to well-known fact that blood-borne dissemination hardly occurred in aspergilloma in contrast to cryptococcosis. These findings suggest that aspergilloma and solitary lesion of cryptococcosis should be resected, and adjuvant chemotherapy should be accompanied for cryptococcosis.     

Tuberculosis of the breast: rare but still extant. Review of the literature and report of an additional case

Tuberculosis of the breast is a rare malady that is usually manifested by a unilateral mass suggestive of carcinoma or sometimes of abscess. Mammography also suggests carcinoma in most instances. However, at operation, the discovery of necrotic tissue or abscess may lead to the suspicion of infectious or inflammatory disease rather than neoplasm. The diagnosis of tuberculosis may be established by the demonstration of acid-fast bacilli in excised tissue, by culture studies, or by guinea pig inoculation; however, the diagnosis is usually not suspected. In the past, mastectomy was the usual treatment. Today, successful treatment combines antituberculous drug therapy with the removal of infected breast tissue. The prognosis for complete cure is excellent. One case of secondary tuberculous mastitis has been reported herein. The patient, an Egyptian woman residing in the United States since 1973, was treated in Egypt for pulmonary tuberculosis at age 17. She presented in 1982 with a breast mass that mimicked carcinoma on physical examination and mammograms, but excisional biopsy and histologic examination revealed a breast abscess that contained caseous material and a solitary acid-fast bacillus. The patient was cured of her disease after appropriate operation and a course of antituberculous drugs. This has been the only documented case of mammary tuberculosis at our institution. Despite its rarity, tuberculosis of the breast should not be forgotten in this age of world travel.