Turkish Neurosurgery
2009 , Vol 19 , Num 3
A Rare But Fatal Case of Granulomatous Amebic Encephalitis with Brain Abscess: The First Case Reported from Turkey
Başkent University, School of Medicine, Neurosurgery Department, Ankara, Turkey
The incidence of protozoal and helminthic infestations of the central nervous
system (CNS) is less than 1%, but these infestations tend to follow a fatal course.
They are more common among children, the elderly and immunocompromised
individuals. CNS infections due to Entamoeba histolytica have been known for
a long time. In recent years, especially in developing countries, there has been
an increase in CNS infections due to free-living amebas (FLAs). Acute CNS
infection due to Naegleria fowleri, which ends in death within 2-7 days, is
termed primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM); subacute or chronic CNS
infections due to Acanthamoeba spp, Balamuthia mandrillaris, and Sappinia
diploidea, which occasionally cause cerebral abscess, are termed granulomatous
amebic encephalitis (GAE). This paper presents a case of GAE with abscess
formation in a 75-year-old male patient.
Keywords :
Brain abscess, Granulomatous amebic encephalitis, Treatment