Amoebic Cerebral Abscess: Still A Diagnostic Dilemma with Fatal Outcome

Authors

  • Akriti Jindal Junior Resident, Department of Pathology,Dayanand Medical College & Hospital, Tagore Nagar, Ludhiana
  • Ruchita Tyagi Dayanand Medical College & Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
  • Avantika Garg Student, Department of Pathology, Dayanand Medical College & Hospital, Tagore Nagar, Ludhiana
  • Gursheen Kaur Senior Resident, Department of Cardiology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
  • Ashwani Kumar Chaudhary Professor, Department of Neurosurgery, Dayanand Medical College & Hospital, Tagore Nagar, Ludhiana
  • Gagandeep Singh Professor & Head, Department of Neurology, Dayanand Medical College & Hospital, Tagore Nagar, Ludhiana
  • Harpreet Kaur Professor, Department of Pathology,Dayanand Medical College & Hospital, Tagore Nagar, Ludhiana
  • Neena Sood Professor & Head, Department of Pathology,Dayanand Medical College & Hospital, Tagore Nagar, Ludhiana

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21276/apalm.2370

Keywords:

abscess, amoebiasis, cerebral, Entamoeba

Abstract

Amoebiasis is defined as infection with Entamoeba histolytica, which enters the body through feco – oral route after consumption of food or water contaminated by cysts. We present a rare case of amoebic brain abscess in a 45 years old patient who came with headache, fever and right sided weakness for 15 days. He was emperically being treated for tuberculosis. As Entamoeba was not suspected, no serological or microbiological investigations for the same were done. Histopathological examination of abscess sent after frontal lobectomy revealed trophozoites of Entamoeba histolytica.  Demonstration of trophozoites of Entamoeba on histopathology sections was a surprising finding which clinched the diagnosis in this case. Amoebic brain abscess should be considered as differential diagnosis in all patients who present with signs & symptoms of central nervous system involvement in endemic areas. Early diagnosis and aggressive management with metronidazole is imperative to limit the morbidity and prevent the mortality.

Author Biography

Ruchita Tyagi, Dayanand Medical College & Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab, India

Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology

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Published

27-03-2019

How to Cite

1.
Jindal A, Tyagi R, Garg A, Kaur G, Chaudhary AK, Singh G, et al. Amoebic Cerebral Abscess: Still A Diagnostic Dilemma with Fatal Outcome. Ann of Pathol and Lab Med [Internet]. 2019 Mar. 27 [cited 2024 Dec. 5];6(3):C40-43. Available from: https://pacificejournals.com/journal/index.php/apalm/article/view/2370

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Section

Case Report