Latest Articles

Open access Case Report | October 11, 2024
Intraventricular pilocytic astrocytoma: A case report
Almohannad S Algarni , Saud S Alasmari , Abdulaziz S Alqahtani , Turki D Alshammari , Abdu M Alkhairi
Year: 2024

Background: Pilocytic astrocytomas (PA) are low-grade, benign gliomas classified as WHO grade I, representing 6% of all gliomas and commonly found in children. Intraventricular pilocytic astrocytomas (IVPA) are rare, accounting for only 4% of PA cases.

Case Presentation: We report a 42-year-old Saudi woman with recurrent positional headaches but no neurological deficits. MRI showed a 1.2-cm non-enhancing lesion near the foramen of Monro, initially thought to be a colloid cyst. The lesion was excised via an interhemispheric transcallosal approach. Histopathology confirmed PA with biphasic tissue, glomeruloid vessels, and strong GFAP positivity, classified as WHO grade I. No further chemotherapy or radiotherapy was required.

Postoperative Outcome: Post-surgery, the patient had transient short-term memory issues, partially resolving within six months, and her headaches ceased. Initial imaging showed pneumocephalus, which resolved after one month.

Discussion: IVPA typically remain asymptomatic until they cause hydrocephalus by obstructing cerebrospinal fluid pathways. Radiologically, they appear as well-defined lesions with mixed cystic and solid components. Complete surgical resection is crucial to minimize recurrence.

Conclusion: IVPA, though rare in adults, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of intraventricular lesions. This case highlights the significance of accurate diagnosis and surgical management for this uncommon tumor.


Open access Case Report | November 10, 2024
Severe Adenovirus Infections in Young Adults
Ghadi Zebian , Aurelie Guigon , Christos Gkizas , Sebastien Preau , Arthur Durand
Year: 2024

Background: Despite traditionally affecting individuals with compromised immune systems, severe human adenoviruses (HAdV) infections have been observed in young adults without immunodeficiency over recent decades.
Case Presentation: This case study documents two young patients infected with HAdV who experienced multi-organ failure, manifesting as respiratory distress, vasoplegia, myocardial injury, and kidney impairment. The resolution of organ failure correlated with the clearance of viral load, suggesting a potential prognostic indicator for infection outcomes. While the first case demonstrated a positive outcome with the resolution of viremia, regrettably, the second case succumbed to myocardial infarction followed by cardiac arrest. The use of cardiac monitoring may aid in the identification of significant myocardial complications associated with HAdV. Although various treatments, including the antiviral CIDOFOVIR, have been reported for immunocompromised individuals, it was not administered to our patients due to the favorable trajectory of the first case.
Tragically, the second case passed away before any potential antiviral intervention could be initiated.
Conclusion: HAdV infections can cause severe acute respiratory distress syndrome with multi-organ failure including severe cardiac complications in young non-immunocompromised adults.