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Updated: Oct 10, 2025

Listeria monocytogenes Infection of the Brain
05:02

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Fungal Abscess in the Brain

Jacob L Goldberg1, Alexandra Giantini-Larsen1, Cameron W Brennan2

  • 1Department of Neurosurgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA.

World Neurosurgery
|December 9, 2021
PubMed

Insights

A 67-year-old male with chronic lymphocytic leukemia developed headaches and brain lesions. Diagnosis confirmed an invasive fungal infection via stereotactic brain biopsy.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a hematologic malignancy.
  • Patients with CLL often receive immunosuppressive therapies.
  • Standard prophylaxis includes trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia.

Observation:

  • A 67-year-old male with CLL presented with headaches.
  • Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed ring-enhancing lesions.
  • The patient was on rituximab and ibrutinib for CLL treatment.

Findings:

  • Stereotactic brain biopsy was performed for diagnosis.
  • Light microscopy identified an invasive fungal infection.
  • The fungal infection was the cause of the brain lesions.

Implications:

  • Invasive fungal infections can present as brain lesions in immunocompromised patients.
  • Early diagnosis via biopsy is crucial for effective treatment.
  • This case highlights the importance of considering fungal infections in CLL patients with neurological symptoms.
Keywords:
Fungal light microscopyRing-enhancing abscessStereotactic brain biopsy

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