| Title | Pseudotumoral chagasic meningoencephalitis as the first manifestation of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. |
| Author(s) | Cohen JE, Tsai EC, Ginsberg HJ, Godes J |
| Institution | Departamento de Neurocirugía, Hospital de Emergencias Dr. Clemente Alvarez, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Argentina. |
| Source | Surg Neurol 1998 Mar; 49(3):324-7. |
| MeSH | AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections
Adult
Chagas Disease
Diagnosis, Differential
Humans
Male
Meningoencephalitis
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
|
| Abstract | BACKGROUND: Patients with AIDS frequently show secondary involvement of the brain by different infectious agents, and Chagas' disease is now recognized as a potential opportunistic infection. To our knowledge, pseudotumoral chagasic meningoencephalitis has not been previously reported as the first manifestation of AIDS.
METHODS AND RESULTS: A 30-year-old Argentinian man without any risk factor for HIV infection was admitted to the hospital with an acute onset of drowsiness. A computed tomography scan showed a hypodense parietal tumor-like lesion. Open brain biopsy revealed hemorrhagic necrosis and numerous amastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi. Nifurtimox was started, but the patient died.
CONCLUSIONS: Chagas' disease can reactivate in patients with AIDS and present as a brain mass that is indistinguishable from other infectious or neoplasic processes. Our report demonstrates this entity as the first manifestation of AIDS. |
| Language | eng |
| Pub Type(s) | Case Reports
Journal Article
|
| PubMed ID | 9508123 |
