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A Unique Presentation of an Intracranial Abscess Secondary to Retained Projectile after Debridement with Dural Closure.

ABSTRACT: Patients with penetrating head trauma with retained projectiles develop intracranial abscesses as a common complication. The most common presentation is a suddenly worsening headache. The most common pathogen identified is staphylococcus. Outcomes are related to adherence of Matson's tenets. This case study details the presentation of a 19-year-old patient that presented to the neurological surgery clinic without neurologic deficits. Further questioning revealed complaints of intermittent diffuse headaches with bilateral upper extremity shock-like sensation for two weeks. Eight weeks prior he had undergone right craniotomy, after a gunshot wound, for debridement and watertight dural closure. The patient denied symptoms of fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or seizure. The patient presented with a noncontrast head computed tomography (CT) which revealed retained projectile fragments without clear evidence of abscess. On physical exam, the patient was without any neurological deficit. Laboratory investigation revealed normal white blood cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and negative blood cultures. Head CT with contrast revealed a large intracerebral abscess adjacent to the thalamus. The patient was taken to the operating room for repeat craniotomy with resection of the abscess and removal of the intracranial projectile fragments. Post-operatively, the patient remained neurology intact. Intraoperative cultures were not significant for the growth of any bacteria. In eight weeks time, the patient returned to his employment and his baseline level of activity. This case underscores the importance of thorough assessment in patients with retained intracranial projectiles as well as the need to routine follow-up. The unique presentation of this patient prompted further investigation which elucidated a lesion which correlated to his symptoms although laboratory assessment was without abnormality.

SUBMITTER: Milton J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5501717 | biostudies-other | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

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Project description:Background and purposeA minority of intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas progress with time. We sought to determine features that predict progression and define outcomes of patients with progressive dural arteriovenous fistulas.Materials and methodsWe performed a retrospective imaging and clinical record review of patients with intracranial dural arteriovenous fistula evaluated at our hospital.ResultsOf 579 patients with intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas, 545 had 1 fistula (mean age, 45 ± 23 years) and 34 (5.9%) had enlarging, de novo, multiple, or recurrent fistulas (mean age, 53 ± 20 years; P = .11). Among these 34 patients, 19 had progressive dural arteriovenous fistulas with de novo fistulas or fistula enlargement with time (mean age, 36 ± 25 years; progressive group) and 15 had multiple or recurrent but nonprogressive fistulas (mean age, 57 ± 13 years; P = .0059, nonprogressive group). Whereas all 6 children had fistula progression, only 13/28 adults (P = .020) progressed. Angioarchitectural correlates to chronically elevated intracranial venous pressures, including venous sinus dilation (41% versus 7%, P = .045) and pseudophlebitic cortical venous pattern (P = .048), were more common in patients with progressive disease than in those without progression. Patients with progressive disease received more treatments than those without progression (median, 5 versus 3; P = .0068), but as a group, they did not demonstrate worse clinical outcomes (median mRS, 1 and 1; P = .39). However, 3 young patients died from intracranial venous hypertension and intracranial hemorrhage related to progression of their fistulas despite extensive endovascular, surgical, and radiosurgical treatments.ConclusionsFew patients with dural arteriovenous fistulas follow an aggressive, progressive clinical course despite treatment. Younger age at initial presentation and angioarchitectural correlates to venous hypertension may help identify these patients prospectively.

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A Unique Presentation of an Intracranial Abscess Secondary to Retained Projectile after Debridement with Dural Closure.

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