CC BY 4.0 · Surg J (N Y) 2017; 03(02): e62-e68
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1598248
Case Report
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Cladophialophora Bantiana: A Rare Intracerebral Fungal Abscess—Case Series and Review of Literature

Maleeha Ahmad
1   Department of Neurosurgery, Geisinger Health System, Danville, Pennsylvania
,
Darren Jacobs
1   Department of Neurosurgery, Geisinger Health System, Danville, Pennsylvania
,
Hueizhi Hope Wu
2   Department of Pathology, Geisinger Health System, Danville, Pennsylvania
,
Donna M. Wolk
3   Department of Laboratory Medicine, Geisinger Health System, Danville, Pennsylvania
,
Syed A. Jaffar Kazmi
2   Department of Pathology, Geisinger Health System, Danville, Pennsylvania
3   Department of Laboratory Medicine, Geisinger Health System, Danville, Pennsylvania
,
Carlos Jaramillo
4   Department of Infectious Disease, Geisinger Health System, Danville, Pennsylvania
,
Steven A. Toms
5   Department of Neurosurgery, Lifespan Health System, Rhode Island
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

17 September 2015

29 December 2016

Publication Date:
30 March 2017 (online)

Abstract

Background Intracerebral Cladophialophora bantiana may carry up to a 70% mortality rate despite advances in surgical resection capabilities and the use of both systemic and intrathecal antifungal treatments.

Objectives The authors examined a retrospective case series of two patients with intracerebral infection from the rare, neurotropic fungus Cladophialophora bantiana and conducted a literature review to evaluate optimal therapies.

Patients/Methods At our institution, the patients' cases presented with raised intracranial features of headache, visual field cut, and/or memory loss, with a correspondingly wide variety of radiological differential diagnoses. It was the microbiological, histopathological, and genomic identification of C. bantiana that ensured targeted, individualized patient therapies.

Results and Conclusions Successful treatment depends on obtaining a complete surgical resection, an accurate microbiological diagnoses for mold identification, and an effective long-term, personalized antifungal treatment. Close radiographic surveillance is necessary to ensure complete eradication of pheoid fungi.

 
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