The incidence of cryptococcosis has risen sharply together with the growing number of patients with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Cryptococcal meningitis is nowadays the most common intracranial non-viral infection in such cases. One of its most serious complications is intracranial hypertension (ICH), a situation that can lead either to early death, or disabling sequelae. The authors analyse a series of 10 cases of encephalic cryptococcosis with ICH, and describe the clinical course, diagnosis, medical and surgical treatment, and evolution. The physiopathology of ICH in these patients is discussed, proposing placement of a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt as the primary and emergency treatment, even when ventricular enlargement might be absent. Although the present series is certainly small, from the preceding discussion and according to an extensive bibliographical review, our conclusion is that patients with encephalic cryptococcosis and uncontrollable ICH should receive surgical treatment, consisting of an emergency diversion of the CSF, because serial lumbar punctures are not enough to improve the clinical course, that if left to its natural evolution would lead to a fatal outcome in a short time. In spite of the fact that CSF shunts were carried out on immunocompromised patients, no superinfections occurred.
Infratentorial subdural empyemas are rare. The authors report three cases encountered between 1979 and 1988, representing a 3% incidence among all subdural empyemas. The common source was an ear infection. Clinical presentation encompassed a systemic febrile illness, headaches, and a stiff neck. Only one patient had an inconspicuous focal neurological deficit that suggested a cerebral location. Initial diagnosis was acute meningitis in each case. A lumbar puncture was ordered in all three cases but was actually performed in two without developing tonsillar herniation. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis confirmed the diagnosis of meningitis in one but was normal in the other. Computerized tomography allowed a precise diagnosis and localization of the pathology. All three patients received aggressive antibiotic therapy plus suboccipital craniectomy and aspiration of pus; catheter drainage was performed in two. Cultures were positive in one case and negative in the others. Two patients were cured without sequelae; the third patient was moribund at surgery and died. Although it is known that subdural empyemas may localize in the posterior fossa, only one previous report was found. Infratentorial subdural empyema may sometimes be an unrecognized companion of acute meningitis and is cured with antibiotic therapy alone.
Randomized, controlled trials have shown significant improvement of survival after implantation of 1,3-bis(2-Chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) wafers for patients suffering from high-grade glioma. A combination of local chemotherapy with BCNU and concomitant radiochemotherapy with temozolomide (TMZ) appears to be attractive to enhance the overall survival, even though these treatments may potentially cumulate their toxicity. We report a clinical case of a patient submitted to this combined treatment protocol. Severe brain edema and a cystic formation in the surgical cavity rapidly developed. Data supporting the use of Gliadel® combined with TMZ comes from small retrospective studies, and some series have shown a very high rate of adverse events (AEs) when this multimodality treatment is applied. Combined protocols of local and systemic chemotherapy might provide survival benefits, although AEs seem currently underestimated.
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