AI Article Synopsis
- A 76-year-old woman experienced cognitive decline and gait issues, initially diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) based on her symptoms and MRI findings of enlarged brain ventricles.
- Upon follow-up, her condition worsened, leading to lumbar puncture and MRI that revealed cryptococcal meningitis and an abscess-like lesion in the brain.
- She was successfully treated with antifungal medication, highlighting the importance of differentiating chronic meningitis from NPH to avoid misdiagnosis.
Article Abstract
Chronic meningitis may present with clinical features related to hydrocephalus. We report a 76-year-old female who presented to an outpatient clinic with cognitive decline and gait disturbance with recurrent falls. The initial diagnosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) was based on the clinical symptoms and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain, which showed ventriculomegaly without an obstructive lesion. During follow-up, however, there was remarkable cognitive decline, and she was unable to walk without assistance. Lumbar puncture and brain MRI showed respective lymphocyte-dominant pleocytosis that was positive for cryptococcal antigen and a new encapsulated abscess-like lesion in a left caudate head. Treatment for cryptococcal meningitis was initiated, and the patient was cured after a long treatment with an antifungal agent. As chronic meningitis could be misdiagnosed as NPH, differential diagnoses of etiologies that can cause hydrocephalus should be addressed.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10598285 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.47936/encephalitis.2023.00038 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!