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[Meningomyeloradiculitis in an immunocompetent patient]
C Carra Dalliere1, E Thouvenot, G Baptista
1Service de neurologie, hôpital Gui-de-Chauliac, CHU de Montpellier, 80 avenue Augustin-Flîche, Montpellier cedex 5, France. clarisse.dalliere@wanadoo.fr
Revue Neurologique
|March 9, 2010
Summary
Central nervous system Candida infection is rare and mimics tuberculosis. Diagnosis requires neurosurgical biopsy, highlighting challenges in candidal meningitis management.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Mycology
Background:
- Candida infection of the central nervous system (CNS) is exceptionally rare.
- Clinical and cerebrospinal fluid findings can mimic tuberculosis, complicating diagnosis.
Observation:
- A 23-year-old immunocompetent individual with a history of drug addiction presented with symptoms of alternating sciatica and multiple cranial nerve involvement.
- Significant weight loss was noted preceding the neurological deficits.
Findings:
- Diagnosis was established via histopathologic examination of a leptomeningeal neurosurgical biopsy.
- The causative agent was identified as Candida albicans, confirming neuromeningeal candidiasis.
Implications:
- This case underscores the diagnostic challenges associated with candidal meningitis.
- Current therapeutic strategies for this rare CNS fungal infection are reviewed.
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