Acute neurological deficits caused by cefipime: a case report and review of literature

Cefepime (Maxipime) is a fourth-generation cephalosporin commonly used to treat a variety of infections. Its controversial side effect profile is not well appreciated by first-line practitioners. We report a case of urinary tract infection treated with cefepime in a 91-year-old woman. The acute onset of conscuous disturbance was noted on the 9th day of cefepime treatment. Computed tomogram and magnetic resonance image of the brain showed no specific findings. The neurological symptoms and signs such us conscious disturbance, ocular bobbing, asterexis disappeared after discontinuation of cefepime. We suggest that physicians should cefepime as a possible cause of reversible neurological deficits.     

Tension pneumocephalus: a case report and literature review

Following a bifrontal craniotomy with frontal sinus involvement, a 64-year-old woman developed cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhoea. At a second operation the skull base dural defect was repaired from within the anterior cranial fossa. Ten days later, the patient developed signs and symptoms of raised intracranial pressure and mass effect. Following radiological investigation, the diagnosis of tension pneumocephalus was made and confirmed at the time of decompression. Within 24 h air had reaccumulated under pressure and concurrently an ongoing CSF leak, which until then had been subclinical, became apparent. Definitive repair of the fistula was performed via a frontal sinus approach and the patient made a total recovery. The relationship between CSF leak and delayed onset tension pneumocephalus is discussed, along with other significant issues regarding the diagnosis and management of this uncommon but dangerous condition.     

Acute transverse myelitis following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination: a case report and review of literature

Journal of Neurology - To report a unique case and literature review of post COVID-19 vaccination associated transverse myelitis and with abnormal MRI findings. Coronavirus disease have been...     

Acute cholecystitis complicating ventriculo-peritoneal shunting: report of a case and review of the literature

Case A 3-year-old boy underwent emergency external ventricular drainage and excision of a fourth ventricle anaplastic ependymoma. A week later, the child was given a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt. Fourteen days after shunting, the child developed a subphrenic abscess and acute cholecystitis that required surgery. Results A Staphylococcus epidermidis was isolated both from the ventricular catheter and CSF and from the subphrenic abscess and the gallbladder. To our knowledge, this is the first report of cholecystitis evolving as a descending shunt infection. The current literature related with this unique complication is briefly reviewed.     

Acute myopia induced by topiramate: report of a case and review of the literature

Topiramate, a new anticonvulsant, is also used for the prophylaxis of migraine and cluster headache. A serious but not often discussed side effect of the drug is the development of acute myopia and acute angle-closure glaucoma in the early stage of therapy that subsides rapidly with prompt discontinuation. One such case is reported here and the relevant literature in this regard is also reviewed.     

脑膜脑炎型隐球菌病:一例报告并文献复习

目的探讨中枢神经系统隐球菌病临床病理学特点。方法与结果男性患者,26岁。以头痛、发热发病,多次脑脊液检查蛋白定量、葡萄糖和氯化物异常但未发现明确的病原菌生长。MRI检查显示右侧小脑及第四脑室、侧脑室后角呈片状异常信号。外科手术探查可见右侧颞叶囊性变,脉络丛呈灰黑色,光学显微镜观察可见大量呈双折光之卵圆形和(或)圆形隐球菌菌体,伴异物巨细胞反应及淋巴细胞浸润,巨细胞中亦可见隐球菌菌体,部分菌体似有芽孢生成。高碘酸.雪夫(PAS)和六胺银(PASM)染色隐球菌呈阳性反应,明确诊断为脑膜脑炎型隐球菌病。结论隐球菌病为中枢神经系统常见真菌感染性疾病,由新型隐球菌致病,以脑组织或相应脑腔隙内出现大量隐球菌菌体为其特征性病理改变,脑脊液特殊染色(PAS、PASM染色)呈阳性反应。     

Hemihydranencephaly: case report and literature review

Hydranencephaly is a severe brain condition characterized by complete or almost complete absence of cerebral cortex with preservation of meninges, basal ganglia, pons, medulla, cerebellum, and falx. It has been ascribed to different causes (infections, irradiations, fetal anoxia, medications, twin-twin transfusion), all leading to vascular disruption. Hemihydranencephaly is an extremely rare condition in which the vascular anomaly is unilateral. We report on a patient who was suspected to have hydrocephalus in utero; a brain magnetic resonance imaging scan showed left-sided hydranencephaly with preservation of basal ganglia. The patient developed signs of right hemiparesis but notably has only mild language delay. The available literature on hemihydranencephaly is reviewed.     

Memantine and catatonia: a case report and literature review

Catatonia is a movement disorder with various possible etiologies. The majority of cases are associated with an underlying mood or psychotic disorder, while others are caused by medical conditions. Currently, benzodiazepines are the first-line psychopharmacologic agents in the treatment of catatonia. However, several cases have been reported in which treatment with memantine proved to be effective. We present the case of a 92-year-old female with major depressive disorder and associated catatonic symptoms. In this case, the patient's symptoms remitted quickly after the initiation of memantine. We review the possible causes of catatonia and pharmacologic treatments for the condition and highlight the possible benefits of N-methylD-aspartic acid receptor antagonists such as memantine in the treatment of catatonia.     

原发性脊膜黑色素细胞瘤一例并文献复习

目的报告一例经病理证实的原发性脊膜黑色素细胞瘤,并通过相关文献复习,探讨该疾病的临床特点、诊断、治疗及预后。方法回顾性分析该病例的临床表现、影像学特征、病理学特征等资料,结合相关文献,对该罕见疾病进行探讨。结果本例患者病变位于颈7~胸1节段椎管内,为髓外硬膜下病变,术前检查完善后行颈7椎板切除、椎管内占位性病变切除、脊椎内固定术。术后病理检验结果提示脊膜黑色素细胞瘤。结论原发性脊膜黑色素细胞瘤是一种罕见的中枢神经系统良性肿瘤,具有一定的复发率,并可能向恶性黑色素瘤转变,临床需要与恶性黑色素瘤、转移性黑色素瘤等相鉴别。目前主要的治疗方案是手术治疗,手术不能完全切除的患者,辅助放疗可以有效改善预后。     

Cerebral astroblastoma: report of a case and literature review

We report a new case of low grade astroblastoma of pure type and consider the definition and the clinical, neuroimaging, intraoperative and pathological characteristics of this type of uncommon intracranial tumour. We analyse the differences found in the literature concerning the immunochemistry, genetics and electron microscopy. We point out the lack of protocols for treatment of this type of intracranial tumour, and comment the various hypothesis of its origin.     

Streptococcus salivarius meningitis: a case report and literature review

Twelve hours after spinal anaesthesia, a 61-year-old patient developed meningitis with fever, somnolence, headache and stiffness of the neck. The cerebrospinal fluid was found to contain 5.279/mm³ cells (95 granulocytes), 12.800 mg/l protein and 14.0 mmol/l lactate. Streptococcus salivarius was detected in the culture. The patient was treated with antibiotics (initially cefotaxime, fosfomycin and gentamycin, later piperacillin and sulbactam). Restitutio ad integrum took place after 7 days. Thirteen cases of Streptococcus salivarius meningitis over the past 40 years are described in the literature, nine of which occurred following spinal puncture. Streptococcus salivarius was probably communicated by the medical personnel from the oral cavity when working without masks. The outcome in each case was good. In our opinion suitable masks must be worn during spinal puncture. Although iatrogenic infection is uncommon, it cannot be ruled out.     

无功能垂体癌1例并文献复习

目的探讨垂体癌的诊断与治疗。方法结合文献回顾分析1例垂体癌的临床诊断、影像学表现、病理诊断、治疗方案及预后。结果病人经蝶手术4个月后,颅内出现多发转移灶,右顶叶病灶经开颅予以全切除,采取放化疗后效果不佳,全身衰竭死亡。结论垂体癌诊断困难,治疗效果差,需寻找更有效的诊断和治疗方法。     

Glossopharyngeal schwannoma : a case report and review of literature

We report a rare case of glossopharyngeal schwannoma whose clinical presentation and the radiological work up suggested an acoustic schwannoma. The diagnosis was made at surgery, once attachment to ninth cranial nerve was seen. The clinical presentation, radiological features and surgical findings of the glossopharyngeal schwannoma are presented along with the review of literature.     

Episodic ataxia: a case report and review of literature

This report describes the clinical features of a 29 year female presenting with a 3 years history of episodes of cerebellar ataxia, dysarthria and nystagmus lasting 3-5 days, recurring almost every month. Sleep disturbance and buzzing in ears were noted 3-4 days before each episode. No other precipitant factor was present. Family history was negative. She was diagnosed as a case of episodic ataxia type-2 and was successfully treated with acetazolamide, a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor. She was asymptomatic at 2 year followup.     

Pediatric quetiapine overdose: a case report and literature review

Quetiapine is a medication approved for the treatment of psychotic disorders in adults. At this time it is not approved for the treatment of children or adolescents. It is an atypical antipsychotic agent that is efficacious in treating both the positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia. There is currently little information available concerning the safety of quetiapine in overdose, and there are no previous case reports of quetiapine overdose in the pediatric population. We present the case of a 15-year-old girl who ingested 1250 mg of quetiapine (21.6 mg/kg) in a suicide attempt. She developed multiple symptoms including tachycardia, agitation, hypotension, and unconsciousness. We compare her symptoms to previous adult cases of quetiapine overdose and review overdose treatment recommendations. We also examine clinical situations that may lead to a more severe clinical course.     

Intracranial falx chondroma: literature review and a case report

Intracranial chondromas are benign tumors that represent approximately 0.5% of all intracranial tumors. They usually occur at the base of the skull but on rare occasions might present as intra-parenchymal or intra-ventricular space-occupying lesions, most likely originating from heterotopic chondrocytes or metaplastic fibroblasts of the falx, the convexity dura, or the ventricular ependyma. Chondromas are slow-growing tumors, which remain clinically silent for a prolonged period of time in the majority of cases. Their clinical presentation is non-specific and their radiographic appearance usually does not differentiate them from their more common counterparts, such as meningiomas and glial tumors. As a result, their diagnosis has remained a histopathologic one. In our current study, we present a case of a falcine intracranial chondroma. This case provided the opportunity to extensively review the pertinent literature.