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Infratentorial subdural empyemas mimicking pyogenic meningitis
Dr. Suman S. Karanth Department of Medicine, Kasturba Medical college, Manipal, Manipal University Karnataka India drsumansk@gmail.com
This article was originally published by Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Private Ltd. and was migrated to Scientific Scholar after the change of Publisher.
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Infratentorial subdural empyema is an extremely rare condition which unfortunately mimics pyogenic meningitis in 75% of cases. While an ill‑planned lumbar puncture in these cases may be fatal, an inadvertent delay in treatment may be detrimental to the outcome for the patient. We present a case of a young boy with long standing history of chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) presenting with an infratentorial empyema with features suggestive of pyogenic meningitis. We also review the available literature to further define the condition in terms of clinical features, treatment options, and outcome. A misdiagnosis of this condition with failure to institute appropriate surgical intervention and antibiotic therapy is potentially life threatening. We highlight this rare condition which requires a high degree of suspicion especially in the presence of associated risk factors.
Keywords
Masquerading
meningitis
pyogenic
subdural empyemas
Conflict of Interest
None declared
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