Successful treatment of sellar aspergillus abscess

J Clin Neurosci. 2010 Dec;17(12):1587-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2010.03.040. Epub 2010 Aug 25.

Abstract

A sellar aspergillus abscess is a rare fungal infection of the central nervous system (CNS). A retrospective analysis of three patients with sellar aspergillus abscess was conducted from 2006 to 2008. Data were retrieved from patient records at our hospital. Clinical findings, pathological data and final outcomes were reviewed and analysed. All patients underwent transsphenoidal surgery with the operating microscope and histopathologic examination revealed aspergillosis in all cases. Postoperatively, all patients received medical treatment with voriconazole and caspofungin. During the 3-6-month follow-up period, the patients were symptom free with no recurrences. Therefore, sellar aspergillus abscess should be included in the differential diagnosis of a sellar mass. Early and correct diagnosis via surgery can improve the prognosis. A combination of surgical resection and antifungal therapy has a good outcome. The importance of early treatment for sellar aspergillus abscesses is emphasised.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use
  • Brain Abscess / drug therapy*
  • Brain Abscess / microbiology
  • Brain Abscess / surgery*
  • Caspofungin
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Echinocandins / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lipopeptides
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuroaspergillosis / drug therapy*
  • Neuroaspergillosis / pathology
  • Neuroaspergillosis / surgery*
  • Neurosurgical Procedures
  • Pituitary Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Pituitary Diseases / microbiology
  • Pituitary Diseases / surgery*
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / pathology
  • Pyrimidines / therapeutic use
  • Triazoles / therapeutic use
  • Voriconazole

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Echinocandins
  • Lipopeptides
  • Pyrimidines
  • Triazoles
  • Caspofungin
  • Voriconazole