ABSTRACT
Introduction Chagas disease is an important public health problem in Latin American countries, affecting 6 million people within the region. In patients with chronic Chagas disease who undergo some type of immunosuppression reactivation of the acute form may occur, and manifestations involve many organs, including the central nervous system. Tumor-like brain reactivations are well described in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; however, this is a very rare event among Chagasic patients immunosuppressed after a heart transplantation. Case Report We describe three cases of cardiac transplant patients who had a tumor-like intracranial lesion, whose biopsies were compatible with Chagas disease. All 3 patients were treated with benznidazole, and 2 of them presented parameters of cure after 60 days of treatment, while 1 required a 2nd cycle of treatment. Discussion A tumor-like Chagas disease reactivation in the central nervous system may happen in heart-transplant patients and, due to the multiple differential diagnoses, we believe that brain biopsies should be considered when feasible
Introdução A doença de Chagas é um problema de saúde pública relevante nos países da América Latina, afetando aproximadamente 6 milhões de pessoas na região. Em pacientes com a forma crônica da doença submetidos a algum tipo de imunossupressão, a reativação da forma aguda pode ocorrer e cursar com manifestações que envolvem vários órgãos, incluindo o sistema nervoso central. A reativação cerebral pseudotumoral é bem descrita em pacientes imunossuprimidos pela síndrome de imunodeficiência adquirida; contudo, é um evento raro entre os pacientes imunossuprimidos após transplante cardíaco. Relato de caso São relatados três casos de transplantados cardíacos que apresentavam uma lesão tumoral intracraniana, cujas biópsias eram compatíveis com a doença de Chagas. Todos os 3 pacientes foram tratados com benznidazol, e 2 deles apresentaram parâmetros de cura após 60 dias de tratamento, enquanto 1 exigiu um 2° ciclo de tratamento. Discussão A reativação pseudotumoral da doença de Chagas no sistema nervoso central pode acontecer em pacientes submetidos ao transplante cardíaco e, devido aos múltiplos diagnósticos diferenciais, acreditamos que a biópsia cerebral deve ser considerada quando viável.
ABSTRACT
Arachnoid cysts are benign intracranial lesions. They are usually located in the middle fossa, but can be found in other locations. We present a case of symptomatic Meckel cave (MC) arachnoid cyst - a very rare location - and a treatment strategy not elsewhere described before for this condition. A 54-year-old female with trigeminal neuralgia with previous history of radiofrequency rhizotomy treatment 6 years before admission had been experiencing pain recurrence with progression, which required successive increases in carbamazepine dosage. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) showed dilatation of the right MC with extension to the petrous apex. The lesion was compatible with arachnoid cyst, and due to the worsening of the clinical condition, surgical treatment was chosen. Percutaneous puncture of the cyst through the foramen ovale with injection of intracystic fibrin sealant was performed. The patient woke up from anesthesia with pain improvement and was discharged asymptomatic the next day. After 12 months of follow-up, she remained pain-free. In the literature review, we found only eight cases reported as MC arachnoid cyst. These are likely to progress and become symptomatic owing to their communication with the subarachnoid space and a unidirectional valve mechanism. Pain improvement with this technique is probably secondary to the interruption of these mechanisms.