Massive cerebral infarction as a feature of pituitary apoplexy

A patient with pituitary apoplexy is reported who, in addition to the clinical features of apoplexy, developed a cerebral infarct secondary to compression of the internal carotid artery. The mechanisms of a cerebral infarct associated with pituitary apoplexy are discussed

Solitary cysticercus granuloma of the brainstem Report of four cases

Isolated brainstem involvement in patients who have neurocysticercosis is rare. The authors describe the clinical and radiological features of four patients with a solitary cysticercus granuloma of the brainstem and discuss their case management. In three of the patients the onset of symptoms was fairly rapid, occurring over a few days. The granuloma appeared as an enhancing lesion measuring 20 mm or less, with a ring- or disklike appearance on computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. A stereotactic biopsy provided the definitive diagnosis in one patient. In two patients the granuloma resolved spontaneously with complete regression of symptoms and signs and in one patient the granuloma resolved following albendazole therapy. In all patients, outcome was excellent or good (follow-up evaluation 6 months-3 years) with only one patient having persistent paresthesias on one side of his body. Because spontaneous resolution is the rule, a conservative approach to case management, including observation, is recommended. The importance of recognizing this entity and avoiding unnecessary surgical intervention or empirical antituberculous chemotherapy is emphasized

Brain abscess as the presenting feature of melioidosis

Central nervous system involvement in melioidosis is rare and there are only a few reports of the causative organism, Burkholderia pseudomallei, causing a brain abscess. We report a patient who presented to us with a brain abscess due to this organism and emphasize the need for a high degree of suspicion for this disease in tropical countries and treatment with the appropriate antibiotics, as the mortality associated with this disease is very high

Sacral haemangioma as a cause of coccydynia

We report a 55-year-old woman with coccydynia due to a sacral mass. The histological diagnosis was haemangioma. The MRI findings and the unusual location of this lesion are discussed