Osteomyelitis of the skull base

Atypical osteomyelitis of the skull base and craniovertebral junction caused by Actinomyces infection--case report

A 44-year-old man presented with a very rare case of skull base osteomyelitis manifesting as persistent diplopia. He initially had the symptom with fever after dental extraction. Biopsy from the cervix and upper pharynx performed in a previous hospital had showed negative findings by histological and bacterial examinations. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging disclosed enhanced lesions in the right cavernous sinus, clivus, and right cervical regions. Computed tomography revealed osteolysis, and fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) showed areas of increased uptake. Bacteriological examination of the isolated clival lesion disclosed Actinomyces israelii, and he was treated with intravenous penicillin, 18 million units a day for 6 weeks. MR imaging revealed reduction of intensity in the enhanced areas, and FDG-PET showed disappearance of the increased uptake. After 6 months of oral antibiotics administration, MR imaging disclosed disappearance of the enhanced lesions, and the patient had no sign of neurological deficits. Skull base osteomyelitis resembles neoplasm or inflammatory disease of this region in neurological and radiographic findings. The biopsy specimen should be ideally obtained from an isolated region, and prepared to identify a wide range of organisms and to differentiate other diseases. The serum level of C-reactive protein and FDG-PET are useful to follow up the efficacy of antibiotic therapy.

Traumatic Facial Diplegia and Horner Syndrome: Case Report

Traumatic facial diplegia is an uncommon pathology, and is usually associated with bitemporal bone fractures. Traumatic Horner syndrome is mostly associated with carotid artery dissection. We present a case with traumatic facial diplegia and a unilateral Horner syndrome where the mechanisms of injury were unusual. The patient had developed his neurological deficits 9 days following trauma. We discuss the mechanisms of the facial palsy and Horner syndrome and the importance of their diagnosis.

Skull base osteitis following fungal sinusitis

Aspergillus sp. sinusitis is not uncommon in immunocompromised patients but is unusual in patients who are not immunocompromised. The disease may occur as a saprophytic condition, as an allergic sinusitis or as a potentially lethal invasive disease. The differentiation between non-invasive and invasive Aspergillus sp. sinusitis is crucial and this distinction is fully discussed. The treatment options are also considered. Invasive disease requires aggressive treatment with long-term antifungal agents in sufficient doses combined with wide surgical excision. We present a patient who presented with invasive Aspergillus fumigatus sinusitis and subsequently developed cranial neuropathies and skull base osteitis. She was initially treated with oral itraconazole (400 mg daily) for 18 months but due to lack of response this was changed to a new experimental oral azole (voriconazole) which was continued for a further 14 months. She has since remained well for the last five years.

Multiple cranial nerve palsy after otitis externa: a case report

We report in this paper a case of a patient who developed extensive cranial nerve paresis on the left and right side after otitis externa. Investigation revealed an osteomyelitis of the skull base. We describe this disease and stress the importance of the gallium scan in the diagnostic process and therapeutic follow up.

Osteomyelitis of the skull base

Three cases of osteomyelitis of the skull base with associated problems in diagnosis and therapy are discussed. Patients with atypical skull base osteomyelitis are difficult to diagnose as they have no ear abnormalities, but they often develop multiple cranial nerve deficits mimicking symptoms of a posterior fossa mass. We conclude that computed tomographic scans, magnetic resonance imaging studies, bone scans indium-labeled white blood cell scans, and gallium scans are useful in making the diagnosis. A biopsy of the bony lesion often is needed to identify the causative organism and to rule out a tumor. Intravenously administered antibiotics are the mainstay of therapy and should be continued until 1 week after the gallium scan shows no abnormalities. Follow-up gallium scans then are done at 1 week and 3 months after the cessation of antibiotic therapy to search for a recurrence.

Salmonella osteomyelitis of the skull base

A case of skull base osteomyelitis caused by Salmonella is reported. The patient, a diabetic immunosuppressed man, had a insidious presentation of nasopharyngeal and cranial nerve findings. His radiologic studies showed a striking destruction of the skull base. He died despite antibiotic therapy. Relevant literature is discussed.