Korean J Med.  2019 Aug;94(4):383-386. 10.3904/kjm.2019.94.4.383.

Cryptococcal Meningitis Complicated by a Brain Abscess and an Abdominal Pseudocyst Following Ventriculoperitoneal Shunting

• Kim MJ
• Lee JU

• KMID: 2454684
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3904/kjm.2019.94.4.383

Abstract

Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt insertion is the standard treatment for hydrocephalus; shunt-associated infection is the most common complication after surgery. However, fungal infections are unusual. We present a case of cryptococcal meningitis complicated by a brain abscess and an infected intra-abdominal pseudocyst that developed 14 weeks after VP shunt insertion to treat hydrocephalus in a 74-year-old patient. Cryptococcal central nervous system (CNS) infection has a high mortality rate; however, diagnosis is challenging. Therefore, prompt diagnosis and treatment are required when a cryptococcal CNS infection is suspected in patients with VP shunts.

Keyword

Cryptococcus; Ventriculoperitoneal shunt

MeSH Terms

Aged
Brain Abscess*
Brain*
Central Nervous System
Cryptococcus
Diagnosis
Humans
Hydrocephalus
Meningitis, Cryptococcal*
Mortality
Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt*