Nocardial brain abscess in an immunocompetent patient and review of literature. Issue 1 (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Yinian; Zhu, Wei; li, Qiao; Hou, Boru; Jia, Yanfei; Wei, Naili; Pan, Yawen
• Is Part Of: Chinese neurosurgical journal. Volume 2:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 5
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: Brain abscess -- nocardiosis -- Surgical treatment -- Magnetic resonance imaging; Nervous system -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Neurosciences -- Periodicals; 617.48005
• DOI: 10.1186/s41016-016-0043-6
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2057-4967

Abstract

Abstract Background Nocardial brain abscesses are associated with significant morbidity and mortality rates. The optimal management remains unclear. Case presentation We report a case of 49-year-old woman presented with dizziness, progressive headache for 3 days, accompanied with left arm twitched for twice. The patient underwent a right parietal craniotomy for resection of the lesion. Gross total resection of the lesion was achieved. There were no new neurological deficits post-operatively, and no lesions was demonstrated on Gd-enhanced MRI images at six months follow-up. Conclusions After review of the literature and experience learned from our case, we suggest that craniotomy and surgical resection of the lesions, instead of aspiration, is a safe, efficacious treatment for the patient with nocardial brain abscesses. Long-term chemotherapy and follow-up is mandatory in all cases.