[A case of aspergillotic meningoencephalitis associated with trigeminal neuralgia]

A case of aspergillotic meningoencephalitis associated with trigeminal neuralgia was reported. The patient, a 41-year-old female, was admitted to our hospital on Nov. 20, 1977 with the chief complaint of right trigeminal neuralgia. On admission right facial paresthesia and right abducens palsy were found. The skull x-ray and tomogram showed enlargement of the right superior orbital fissure. Ct scan revealed an irregular high density around the right superior orbital fissure. The examination of spinal fluid showed 75 mg/dl protein, 72 mg/dl sugar and 11 cells. A biopsy of the mass and trigeminal rhizotomy were performed on Dec. 21, 1977. Microscopically, the specimen was composed of nonspecific granulomatous inflammatory tissue. Thereafter, loss of visual acuity, total ophthalmoplegia and facial paresis gradually appeared on the right side with high fever elevation. Immunologically, peripheral blood lymphocytes responded normally to PHA and PWM, but numbers of lymphocytes showed a tendancy of decrease with deterioration. On the other hand, serum IgG and IgM levels were rather increased. CT scan showed that an irregular high density mass extended to the right orbital apex and the pterygoid fossa. Spinal fluid revealed 260 mmH2O pressure with 76 mg/dl protein, 55 mg/dl sugar and 293 cells, but no organisms were demonstrated. Four months after the operation, swelling of the right subtemporal region became remarkable, in which region a puncture revealed much pus retention, and Aspergillus fumigatus was cultured from the aspirated pus. The patient became comatose and died on May 20, 1978. Autopsy showed thick, yellowish green pseudomembranes covering from the right temporal tip to the basal cistern. The both of cerebral hemispheres were swollen and revealed multiple small softenings all over the brain. Small hemorrhage occupying the right temporal subcortex and microabscess located in the left thalamus were also seen. Microscopical examination disclosed that the pseudomembrane was composed of the necrotizing suppurative inflammation with branched septate hypha of Aspergillus. There have been a few reports of aspergillotic meningoencephalitis associated with trigeminal neuralgia and enlargement of the superior orbital fissure like this case. Some discussion was made on the importance for the diagnosis of aspergillosis to perform fungal culture and histological examination of materials obtained from the inflammatory site, and immunological data of this case was also presented.