Spinal epidural abscess (SEA) presents with vertebral body involvement. SEA is mostly pyogenic in developed countries, but in developing countries, tuberculosis is more common cause. Young female presented with fever, neck, and right upper limb pain for 1 month followed by acute onset weakness in the right upper limb. Magnetic resonance imaging study of cervical spine showed contrast-enhancing lesion in C2–C3 epidural region. Surgery-aided by initiation of antibacterial and antitubercular treatment based on culture and histopathological study of pus helped us to get good clinical outcome. One should always keep in mind possibility of tubercular abscess while treating cases of spinal epidural lesions, though it is rare in the absence of osseous involvement. Pyogenic and tubercular abscess can present concurrently and sending pus for culture and sensitivity is must as it plays important role in identifying dual organisms.
Civilian penetrating brain injury (PBI) is a rare form of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and is rarer in the pediatric population. Pediatric PBI due to various objects has been reported in the literature. Pediatric PBI with an iron rod has not been previously described. We reported a case of civilian penetrating injury in a 6-year-old girl child patient who fell over a projecting iron rod at a construction site from a height of 6 to 8 feet. She was lifted off from the iron rod and taken to the emergency medical services. CT scan of the brain revealed linear intracerebral hemorrhage along the iron rod’s track with a depressed fracture. She underwent emergency surgery because of a compound depressed fracture. She recovered well from his injury without neurological deficit with an excellent clinical outcome.
Dermoid cysts are rare congenital lesions of the brain. They are commonly located in the supratentorial region. Infratentorial dermoid cysts are uncommon. They can occupy cerebellopontine angle, midline posterior fossa, or brain stem. Midline post fossa dermoid cysts can be confused with another common lesion in this location. We describe a case of midline posterior fossa dermoid cyst in a 6-year-female child who presented with signs and symptoms of raised intracranial pressure. Magnetic resonance imaging showed posterior fossa lesion which was hypointense on T1-weighted images, hyperintense on T2-weighted images, and not enhancing on intravenous contrast administration. The lesion showed restricted diffusion on diffusion-weighted images. Radiological diagnosis was an epidermoid cyst. However, during surgery, we found hair follicles. Histopathological examination revealed dermoid cyst. The child recovered completely following cyst excision. We present a case of a posterior fossa dermoid cyst mimicking epidermoid cyst.
Transorbital orbitofrontal penetrating injury by a nonmissile object is uncommon. The presentation of this injury varies. This injury can be easily missed during the initial clinical presentation, because the foreign body is sometimes not visible on local examination, the wound on the orbital skin is small, and very subtle signs are present. The patient can present with delayed complications of the primary injury. Our patient was a 33-year-old male who presented with an orbitofrontal injury with a meat hook. He had minor symptoms at the time of presentation, which were overlooked. Three weeks later, he developed signs and symptoms of raised intracranial pressure (ICP). Brain imaging revealed a peripheral rim of contrast-enhancing mass lesion in the right frontal lobe, extending into the right orbit with perilesional edema suggestive of posttraumatic brain abscess. Via right frontal craniotomy, pus was drained out and abscess wall was excised. The patient made good clinical recovery. A higher index of suspicion and sound knowledge of occult penetrating injury patterns is required in the cases of orbital injuries. Appropriate radiological imaging can lead to an earlier and accurate diagnosis, and can prevent its delayed sequela like brain abscess.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.