Pajer HB, Asher AM, Gelinne A, Northam W, van Duin D, Quinsey CS. Impact of Surgical and Medical Treatment on Survival of Patients with Cerebral Aspergillosis: Systematic Review of the Literature.
World Neurosurg 2021;
149:244-248.e13. [PMID:
33482411 DOI:
10.1016/j.wneu.2021.01.033]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2020] [Revised: 01/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
Cerebral aspergillosis carries a high mortality. Rapid diagnosis and treatment can increase survival, but symptoms and imaging findings are nonspecific. The literature on cerebral aspergillosis consists mostly of case reports and case series and lacks large-scale review of data.
METHODS
We performed a review of the literature using PubMed in March 2019. We recorded the year of publication, age and sex of patients, neurosurgical involvement, the antifungals administered, use of intrathecal antifungals, and the outcome of patients. The relationships among variables were tested using bivariant statics and linear regression.
RESULTS
A total of 324 studies met the eligibility criteria, and 198 studies including 248 patients were included. Surgical resection (odds ratio [OR], 0.45; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.25-0.80; P < 0.01) and administration of voriconazole (OR, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.18-0.55; P < 0.001) or itraconazole (OR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.16-0.72; P < 0.001) were shown to be significantly associated with survival.
CONCLUSIONS
Given the significant survival benefits for patients who received voriconazole and surgical intervention, we suggest early antifungal medical treatment and resection.
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