Batool SM, Mubarak F, Enam SA. Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging may be useful in differentiating fungal abscess from malignant intracranial lesion: Case report.
Surg Neurol Int 2019;
10:13. [PMID:
30788184 PMCID:
PMC6367948 DOI:
10.4103/sni.sni_300_18]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance has a well-defined role in differentiating between important intracranial lesions. Sometimes, the surgeon is faced with a dilemma of how to diagnose an infectious versus malignant lesion.
Case Description
A 28-year-old male presented to the neurosurgery clinic with complaints of headache and left-sided weakness for 2 weeks. Neurological examination was intact. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan showed a large infiltrating heterogeneous mass involving the right parietal lobe. On further reviewing, there was homogenous diffusion restriction in the center of lesion. In addition, its aggressive behavior confirmed it to be a fungal abscess.
Conclusions
Correctly identifying an infectious versus tumor etiology is important. Research has been carried out to employ diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in differentiating the variable radiological findings. The role of DWI in diagnosing bacterial abscess is more commonly seen in comparison to fungal abscess. DWI has a high diagnostic potential, but more works need to be done.
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