Invasive cerebral aspergillosis in an immunocompetent patient. A case report

Area of Science:

• Medical Mycology
• Infectious Diseases
• Neurology

Background:

• Invasive aspergillosis commonly affects the central nervous system in immunocompromised patients.
• Primary fungal brain infections are exceptionally rare in immunocompetent individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a rare case of primary brain aspergillosis in an immunocompetent patient.
• To describe the neuroimaging findings associated with this rare condition.

Main Methods:

• Case report of a 53-year-old male patient.
• Review of clinical presentation and medical history.
• Analysis of neuroimaging studies including computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI).

Main Results:

• The patient, with no prior risk factors for aspergillosis, developed multiple brain abscesses.
• Cerebral lesions appeared following an episode of streptococcal pneumonia.
• Characteristic findings on CT, MRI, and DWI are detailed.

Conclusions:

• Primary invasive aspergillosis of the brain can occur in immunocompetent hosts, even without identifiable risk factors.
• Prompt recognition and neuroimaging are crucial for diagnosing rare fungal brain infections.
• This case underscores the importance of considering fungal etiologies in complex neurological presentations post-infection.