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Neurobrucellosis mimicking cerebral tumor: case report and literature review

Pilar San Miguel1, Gabriel Fernández, Francisco J Vasallo

  • 1Department of Pathology, Centro Médico POVISA, C/Salamanca No. 5, 36211 Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain. psanmiguel@povisa.es

Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery
|April 29, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Neurobrucellosis can mimic brain tumors, presenting as granulomatous encephalitis. Early diagnosis using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for Brucella antibodies is crucial for affected patients.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Neurobrucellosis is a rare manifestation of Brucella infection, often presenting with non-specific neurological symptoms.
  • Differential diagnosis of neurological disorders frequently includes conditions that mimic cerebral tumors.

Observation:

  • A case is presented where neurobrucellosis was clinically and radiologically indistinguishable from a cerebral tumor.
  • Histological examination revealed granulomatous encephalitis as the underlying pathology.

Findings:

  • Diagnosis was confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), which detected elevated levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) Brucella antibodies in both serum and cerebrospinal fluid.
  • The findings highlight the diagnostic utility of serological testing for Brucella in cases of unexplained granulomatous encephalitis.

Implications:

  • It is recommended to investigate for Brucella infection in patients diagnosed with granulomatous encephalitis, especially when the etiological agent is not readily identified.
  • This approach may improve the diagnosis and management of neurobrucellosis, preventing potential misdiagnosis as a neoplastic process.

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