Cladophialophora bantianaBrain Abscess in an Immunocompetent Patient

Sanjay G Revankar

doi:10.1155/2011/642517

Abstract

Cladophialophora bantiana is a dematiaceous mold with a predilection for causing central nervous system infection, particularly in normal hosts. A case involving a 79-year-old immunocompetent woman who presented with left-sided weakness and a ring-enhancing brain lesion is reported. She underwent surgical excision, which revealed a brain abscess due to C bantiana. The patient was treated with liposomal amphotericin B for several weeks, then switched to voriconazole and flucytosine, but eventually succumbed to the infection. Therapy is not standardized for this rare mycosis, and mortality remains high, even in immunocompetent patients. Additional studies to understand the pathogenesis of this infection and to improve outcomes are needed.

Highlights

Cladophialophora bantiana is a dematiaceous mold with a predilection for causing central nervous system infection, in normal hosts
Cladophialophora bantiana is a dematiaceous mold that is a rare cause of human disease or phaeohyphomycosis
It is relatively unique due to its predilection to be involved in central nervous system infection, in immunocompetent patients of widely varying ages [1]

Summary

Introduction

Cladophialophora bantiana is a dematiaceous mold with a predilection for causing central nervous system infection, in normal hosts. We report a case of brain abscess due to C bantiana in an immunocompetent woman. The patient was treated with liposomal amphotericin B at doses ranging from 3 mg/kg/day to 5 mg/kg/day for five weeks; follow-up imaging initially demonstrated a decrease in the size of the remaining lesion after three weeks of therapy, an increase in enhancement was noted at five weeks.

Results

Conclusion