Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 14, 2026
Intracranial Orthotopic Allografting of Medulloblastoma Cells in Immunocompromised Mice
Published on: October 3, 2010
A Unique Case of Intracranial Mucormycosis Following an Assault
Fadilah S Hussain1, Namath S Hussain2
1Radiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine.
Abstract:
Intracranial mucormycosis is a very unusual presentation of an infection after a depressed skull fracture due to an assault. Only sporadic cases have been reported in the literature previously. A 30-year-old male with a traumatic brain injury following an assault, status-post debridement and elevation of a depressed skull fracture, was discharged home several weeks postoperatively. A CT scan of the head with contrast was obtained due to mental status changes and revealed an enhancing ring-shaped lesion in the right frontal lobe consistent with a brain abscess. The patient was taken to the operating room for image-guided excisional biopsy of the lesion, with pathology revealing mucormycosis.
Insights
Intracranial mucormycosis, a rare fungal infection, developed in a patient with a depressed skull fracture. Diagnosis was confirmed via biopsy after imaging revealed a brain abscess.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Neurosurgery
Background:
- Intracranial mucormycosis is a rare and aggressive fungal infection.
- It is an infrequent complication following traumatic brain injury, particularly depressed skull fractures.
Observation:
- A 30-year-old male presented with altered mental status weeks after surgery for a depressed skull fracture.
- Head CT revealed a ring-enhancing lesion in the right frontal lobe, suggestive of a brain abscess.
Findings:
- Image-guided excisional biopsy of the lesion was performed.
- Pathology confirmed the presence of mucormycosis, identifying the causative agent of the intracranial infection.
Implications:
- This case highlights the unusual presentation of intracranial mucormycosis post-trauma.
- Early diagnosis and surgical intervention are crucial for managing this life-threatening infection.
