Spinal and cranio-cervical mycetoma: A difficult surgery, with poor prognosis

Few central nervous systems (CNS) cases of actinomycetoma have been recorded in the literature, and most were reported in tropical and subtropical regions. The management of this invasive infection is difficult, especially when it affects the spine and the cranio-cervical regions.

We report an unusual case of a cranio-cervical junction actinomycetoma, in a patient presenting a cerebellar syndrome from brainstem compression. The CT scan showed a compressive solid osteolytic lesion in the cranio-cervical junction. The patient underwent cranio-cervical decompression and lesion resection. The diagnosis of actinomycetoma was confirmed on immune-histochemistry and molecular analysis. At 4 months' follow-up, the patient presented a fatal recurrence disseminating within the cerebellum and the spine.

The surgical treatment of CNS actinomycetoma presented poor prognosis and a disseminating recurrence. We believe that clinicians and surgeons must be informed about these "new" infectious pathologies that are so difficult to treat, especially with the arrival of migrant patients from endemic countries in conflict.