Vsevolod Shurkhay, Brandon L King, Tyler S Auschwitz, Michael Charles, M Yashar S Kalani
{"title":"Transcirculation repair of a direct carotid-cavernous fistula in a patient who presented with hydrocephalus: illustrative case.","authors":"Vsevolod Shurkhay, Brandon L King, Tyler S Auschwitz, Michael Charles, M Yashar S Kalani","doi":"10.3171/CASE24618","DOIUrl":"10.3171/CASE24618","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Direct carotid-cavernous fistulas (CCFs) are relatively rare but dangerous complications of penetrating traumatic brain injury or maxillofacial trauma. A variety of clinical signs have been described, including ophthalmological and neurological ones. In some cases, severely altered cerebral blood flow can present as massive life-threatening bleeding through the nose, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and/or intraparenchymal hemorrhage. Although intuitively it makes sense that the elevation of venous pressure can obstruct the absorption of cerebrospinal fluid after the formation of a CCF, reports of CCFs presenting with acute acquired hydrocephalus do not exist.</p><p><strong>Observations: </strong>This case illustrates the development of hydrocephalus in a patient with a direct CCF.</p><p><strong>Lessons: </strong>In the absence of a direct path of access to the cavernous sinus due to occlusion of the carotid artery and difficult venous access, a transcirculation route was used to obliterate the CCF and resolve the hydrocephalus in this patient. https://thejns.org/doi/10.3171/CASE24618.</p>","PeriodicalId":94098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of neurosurgery. Case lessons","volume":"9 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11775987/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143054562","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Guenther C Feigl, Iván N Camal Ruggieri, Daniel Staribacher, Gavin Britz, Christiane Holländer, Dzmitry Kuzmin
{"title":"Optic nerve sheath schwannoma: illustrative case.","authors":"Guenther C Feigl, Iván N Camal Ruggieri, Daniel Staribacher, Gavin Britz, Christiane Holländer, Dzmitry Kuzmin","doi":"10.3171/CASE24638","DOIUrl":"10.3171/CASE24638","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Optic nerve schwannomas are an extremely rare pathology in neurosurgery. Their origin is rather debatable given the structure of the optic nerve, which does not typically have Schwann cells therein. However, a number of clinical cases of optic nerve tumors classified as schwannomas have been described in the literature. At present, there is no fundamental understanding of the etiology and pathogenesis of these tumors or treatment due to their rare incidence.</p><p><strong>Observations: </strong>The authors describe the clinical case of a 40-year-old female patient with blurred vision in the left eye for 6 months who was operated on for an optic nerve tumor via a minimally invasive supraorbital approach. Complete resection of the tumor was achieved. Histopathological examination revealed a schwannoma. The patient had no postoperative complaints or neurological deficits. The authors also performed a detailed review of the literature for cases with optic nerve schwannomas. Only 18 patient outcomes have been published so far. There are significant differences in the structure, localization, size, and surgical treatment of optic nerve schwannomas.</p><p><strong>Lessons: </strong>Optic nerve schwannomas are extremely rare lesions. Hence, there is a need to accumulate knowledge in order to study the etiology, pathogenesis, and treatment of these tumors. The minimally invasive supraorbital approach can be successfully used in the surgical treatment of optic nerve schwannomas located in the optic canal. https://thejns.org/doi/10.3171/CASE24638.</p>","PeriodicalId":94098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of neurosurgery. Case lessons","volume":"9 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11775991/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143054334","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mohammad Ghorbani, Mohammadtaghi Imanikhosroshahi, Reza Mollahoseini, Homayoon Khaledian
{"title":"Management of intercostal artery pseudoaneurysm following posterior pedicle screw insertion: illustrative case.","authors":"Mohammad Ghorbani, Mohammadtaghi Imanikhosroshahi, Reza Mollahoseini, Homayoon Khaledian","doi":"10.3171/CASE24291","DOIUrl":"10.3171/CASE24291","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Pedicle screw insertion in posterior spinal surgery can cause vascular injuries, including rare intercostal artery pseudoaneurysms, which are typically discovered incidentally during reimaging. Onyx embolization is an effective treatment for small artery pseudoaneurysms.</p><p><strong>Observations: </strong>A 36-year-old man who had initially presented with back pain that remained unresponsive to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs was diagnosed with a T7-8 sarcomatous lesion confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging and biopsy. He underwent a posterior resection and T5-10 stabilization with pedicle screws. After surgery, significant hemorrhage led to his transfer for digital subtraction angiography, which revealed a prominent vascular tumor blush and a pseudoaneurysm of the right T5 intercostal artery due to screw placement. The tumor and pseudoaneurysm were effectively embolized using superselective catheterization and Onyx.</p><p><strong>Lessons: </strong>This report highlights the dangers of intercostal artery damage from posterior spinal screws, emphasizing the need for meticulous postoperative imaging. Onyx embolization is an effective treatment for such complications. https://thejns.org/doi/10.3171/CASE24291.</p>","PeriodicalId":94098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of neurosurgery. Case lessons","volume":"9 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11775989/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143054294","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Dural perforation and life-threatening central nervous system complications associated with septic arthritis of the lumbar facet joint: illustrative case.","authors":"Hirotaka Yan, Hideki Murakami, Daisuke Yamabe, Keita Taguchi, Kohei Chida, Keisuke Tsuda, Yoshio Suzuki, Makoto Suzuki, Yusuke Chiba, Hirokazu Shitogishi, Ryo Itabashi, Tetsuya Maeda, Minoru Doita","doi":"10.3171/CASE24621","DOIUrl":"10.3171/CASE24621","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Septic arthritis of the lumbar facet joint (SALFJ) is a rare condition that can lead to serious complications. The authors present an uncommon case in which SALFJ resulted in bacterial meningitis (BM) with hydrocephalus and pyogenic ventriculitis, causing a disturbance of consciousness. Reports describing perforation of the dura mater by an epidural abscess are rare, and the present case offers valuable insights into the management of complex and severe complications arising from SALFJ.</p><p><strong>Observations: </strong>A 54-year-old woman presented with impaired consciousness and paraplegia. The patient was eventually diagnosed with SALFJ at the left L3-4 facet joint complicated by BM, hydrocephalus, pyogenic ventriculitis, and acute transverse myelitis. Surgery confirmed a dural perforation, enabling direct invasion of the abscess into the central nervous system (CNS). Surgical interventions, including debridement, dural reconstruction, and local antibiotic perfusion, along with systemic antibiotics, significantly improved the patient's condition.</p><p><strong>Lessons: </strong>This case highlights the potential for an epidural abscess of the SALFJ to directly perforate the dura mater, causing severe CNS complications. This emphasizes the importance of prompt diagnosis and appropriate surgical intervention in managing such complex cases. Timely lumbar surgery, combined with targeted antibiotic therapy, can be life-saving in this rare but critical scenario. https://thejns.org/doi/10.3171/CASE24621.</p>","PeriodicalId":94098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of neurosurgery. Case lessons","volume":"9 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11775988/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143054306","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hadi Sultan, Mohammadmahdi Sabahi, Shadi Bsat, Christopher W Fleming, Scott E Kilpatrick, Badih Adada, Hamid Borghei-Razavi
{"title":"Radiation-induced osteosarcoma of the frontoparietal calvaria 6 years after oligodendroglioma treatment: illustrative case.","authors":"Hadi Sultan, Mohammadmahdi Sabahi, Shadi Bsat, Christopher W Fleming, Scott E Kilpatrick, Badih Adada, Hamid Borghei-Razavi","doi":"10.3171/CASE24535","DOIUrl":"10.3171/CASE24535","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Radiation-induced sarcoma (RIS) is an exceptionally rare occurrence following radiation therapy, and manifestation usually occurs after a several-year latency period. Herein, the authors report the development of a radiation-induced osteosarcoma of the frontoparietal calvaria following treatment for an oligodendroglioma in an 84-year-old woman.</p><p><strong>Observations: </strong>The patient had been diagnosed with a grade III anaplastic oligodendroglioma when she was 78 years old. She had undergone resection and subsequent chemoradiation therapy for treatment of the tumor. In the following years, she experienced progressive neurological decline, which was complicated by multiple ischemic strokes and seizure episodes. When she was approximately 84 years of age, a small mass was noted overlying the previous craniotomy site during examination. Several months later, approximately 5 years after chemoradiation therapy, she presented to the emergency department with a suspected stroke. Examination revealed that the mass had rapidly grown and was pressing into the intracranial space. She underwent craniotomy, and specimens were taken. Pathological analysis demonstrated a high-grade osteosarcoma.</p><p><strong>Lessons: </strong>Despite the lesion's rarity, suspicion for RIS should be raised with the rapid growth of a mass at the site of previous radiotherapy. Furthermore, it is especially important to carefully monitor vulnerable patients who may not be able to recognize or report the development of a growing mass. https://thejns.org/doi/10.3171/CASE24535.</p>","PeriodicalId":94098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of neurosurgery. Case lessons","volume":"9 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11775986/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143054396","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sunny Abdelmageed, Gloria H Bae, James M Mossner, Robin Trierweiler, Mary E Keen, Benjamin Katholi, Jeffrey S Raskin
{"title":"Combined intrathecal baclofen pump revision to the cervical level and lumbosacral ventral-dorsal rhizotomy for severe medically refractory hypertonia: illustrative cases.","authors":"Sunny Abdelmageed, Gloria H Bae, James M Mossner, Robin Trierweiler, Mary E Keen, Benjamin Katholi, Jeffrey S Raskin","doi":"10.3171/CASE24599","DOIUrl":"10.3171/CASE24599","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Medically refractory hypertonia (MRH) within the pediatric population causes severe disability and is difficult to treat. Neurosurgery for mixed MRH includes intrathecal baclofen (ITB) and lumbosacral ventral-dorsal rhizotomy (VDR). Surgical efficacy limitations can be mitigated by combining the two into a multimodal strategy. The authors examined outcomes following a multimodal neurosurgical strategy combining intraspinal ITB catheter revision to the cervical level and lumbosacral VDR.</p><p><strong>Observations: </strong>Two patients with severe MRH resistant to ITB delivered through a thoracic catheter tip were identified: 1) a 16-year-old boy with quadriplegic mixed hypertonia and 2) a 17-year-old girl with secondary dystonia. The patient in case 1 experienced improvement in his Barry-Albright Dystonia Scale (BADS) score from 29 to 17 and lower-extremity modified Ashworth Scale score from 4 to 0 at 18 months postoperatively; the patient in case 2 experienced a decrease in her BADS score from 30 to 13 at 6 months postoperatively. Significant improvement in caregiving provisions, including patient positioning and transfers, was reported.</p><p><strong>Lessons: </strong>The authors highlight favorable outcomes using multimodal surgery in pediatric patients. Multimodal therapy is surgically feasible and better addresses MRH, particularly in patients in whom ITB monotherapy and polypharmacy have failed. Future studies with larger patient volumes are necessary to optimize indications and make more definitive outcome conclusions. https://thejns.org/doi/10.3171/CASE24599.</p>","PeriodicalId":94098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of neurosurgery. Case lessons","volume":"9 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11775990/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143054182","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Recurrent thrombus formation in a carotid web: highlighting the importance of timely surgical intervention. Illustrative case.","authors":"Toshihide Takahashi, Kiyoyuki Yanaka, Minami Saura, Hitoshi Aiyama, Nobuyuki Takahashi, Aiki Marushima, Yuji Matsumaru, Eiichi Ishikawa","doi":"10.3171/CASE24682","DOIUrl":"10.3171/CASE24682","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Carotid webs are rare nonatherosclerotic disorders in the carotid artery and are increasingly recognized as factors of ischemic stroke in the young population. Asymptomatic webs can be treated with antithrombotic therapy, whereas symptomatic cases frequently require surgical interventions, including carotid endarterectomy (CEA). However, guidelines for the optimal timing of these treatments remain unestablished, especially compared to atherosclerotic stenotic lesions, due to the rarity of carotid webs.</p><p><strong>Observations: </strong>A 50-year-old female patient had a carotid web-induced left hemispheric ischemic stroke. Mechanical thrombectomy successfully restored blood flow, but a thrombus reformed in the carotid web within 1 month following the procedure. This caused early CEA, during which the carotid web and thrombus were removed. This case highlights rapid thrombus reformation, indicating that some carotid webs can be more unstable than previously thought.</p><p><strong>Lessons: </strong>This case emphasizes the importance of timely surgical intervention in symptomatic carotid webs to prevent recurrent strokes. Additionally, antithrombotic therapy can manage asymptomatic webs, but surgical treatment may be required in unstable cases. Thus, further studies are warranted to establish standardized treatment guidelines for carotid webs. https://thejns.org/doi/10.3171/CASE24682.</p>","PeriodicalId":94098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of neurosurgery. Case lessons","volume":"9 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11744690/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143019076","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Gabrielle E A Hovis, Jordan Davies, Joseph Lockwood, Frank P K Hsu
{"title":"Retrograde thrombosis of the superficial sylvian vein following liquid adhesive hemostat use during craniotomy: illustrative case.","authors":"Gabrielle E A Hovis, Jordan Davies, Joseph Lockwood, Frank P K Hsu","doi":"10.3171/CASE24607","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3171/CASE24607","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Intravascular injection of liquid adhesive hemostats is a rare but serious complication that can result in cerebral thromboembolism.</p><p><strong>Observations: </strong>A 64-year-old female underwent orbitozygomatic craniotomy for posterior communicating artery aneurysm clipping with the routine use of a flowable hemostatic agent during extradural dissection. After placement of the aneurysm clip, flow was confirmed through the parent vessel and nearby branches. On postoperative day 1, the patient was found to have superficial middle cerebral vein thrombosis with retrograde embolization and subsequent hemorrhagic infarction of the temporal lobe. Eight prior cases of intracranial infarction or hemorrhage secondary to thrombosis with intravascular liquid adhesive were identified. With a craniotomy approach, the transverse and sigmoid sinuses were the most common sites of thrombosis, and the vertebral and basilar arteries had the highest incidence of thrombosis after cervical fusion.</p><p><strong>Lessons: </strong>Intravascular injection of liquid adhesive agents can result in cerebral venous thrombosis, typically of a dural venous sinus. This may present following retrograde embolization, which has not previously been reported. The choice of hemostat, surgical approach, nearby vasculature, and anatomical variations should be carefully considered in the operative management of neurosurgical patients. https://thejns.org/doi/10.3171/CASE24607.</p>","PeriodicalId":94098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of neurosurgery. Case lessons","volume":"9 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11744693/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143019087","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Adham Halaoui, Melanie Estrella, Carol H Yan, Vanessa S Goodwill, Thomas L Beaumont
{"title":"Rathke cleft cyst with squamous metaplasia and activating mutations of mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling: illustrative case.","authors":"Adham Halaoui, Melanie Estrella, Carol H Yan, Vanessa S Goodwill, Thomas L Beaumont","doi":"10.3171/CASE24657","DOIUrl":"10.3171/CASE24657","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Rathke cleft cysts (RCCs) are benign sellar/suprasellar lesions that result from mucin-secreting vestigial remnants within the pars intermedia of the pituitary gland. When symptomatic, they can present with retro-orbital headaches, visual field defects, and/or pituitary dysfunction.</p><p><strong>Observations: </strong>A 35-year-old female presented with subacute retro-orbital headache, right ptosis, and blurred vision. Workup revealed panhypopituitarism with central hypothyroidism and adrenal insufficiency. Imaging demonstrated a sellar/suprasellar mass with subacute intralesional hemorrhage, which was thought to represent chronic pituitary apoplexy. The patient underwent an endoscopic endonasal approach in which the initial intraoperative frozen section suggested papillary craniopharyngioma. Subsequent specimens suggested RCC, thus presenting a surgical management conundrum. Hemihypophysectomy with lesionectomy was performed. Final histopathology demonstrated RCC with squamous metaplasia (RCC-SM), rupture, and hemorrhage. BRAF V600E was not detected. However, activating mutations in KRAS and MAP2K1 were identified.</p><p><strong>Lessons: </strong>RCC can undergo SM and rupture, leading to a hemorrhagic-appearing cystic sellar/suprasellar mass associated with cranial nerve palsies and hypopituitarism that mimics pituitary apoplexy. Intraoperative frozen sections can be ambiguous due to overlapping histopathological features with craniopharyngioma, complicating surgical decision-making. The authors hypothesize that RCC-SM may represent a transitional state between RCC and craniopharyngioma. Neurosurgeons should be mindful of this transitional entity and be prepared to modify their surgical strategy accordingly. https://thejns.org/doi/10.3171/CASE24657.</p>","PeriodicalId":94098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of neurosurgery. Case lessons","volume":"9 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11744688/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143019040","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
M Kodeeswaran, Gaurav R Dhoka, Jamila Alagarsamy, K P Priyadharshan, Arun Narinder, Panchabakesan Manivannan, Bipin Chaurasia
{"title":"Cryptic presentation: primary amoebic meningoencephalitis mimicking a high-grade malignancy resulting in surgical fatality within 48 hours. Illustrative case.","authors":"M Kodeeswaran, Gaurav R Dhoka, Jamila Alagarsamy, K P Priyadharshan, Arun Narinder, Panchabakesan Manivannan, Bipin Chaurasia","doi":"10.3171/CASE24358","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3171/CASE24358","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>A 71-year-old male presented with weakness of the right upper limb and headache for the past 3 months. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with contrast showed a left frontal space-occupying lesion, suggestive of a high-grade malignancy. Awake craniotomy with complete excision of the lesion was performed under immunofluorescence guidance. On postoperative day 2, the patient developed signs of meningoencephalitis and died. The histopathology report showed an abscess with parasitic infection, suggestive of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), an infection caused by Naegleria fowleri.</p><p><strong>Observations: </strong>The patient presented with the above symptoms. Intraoperatively, the lesion exhibited fluorescence uptake and had a firm consistency. The patient did not exhibit any new neurological deficits during surgery, but on postoperative day 2, signs of meningitis emerged, and his condition deteriorated, ultimately leading to his death.</p><p><strong>Lessons: </strong>PAM typically manifests with nonspecific symptoms of meningitis, progressing to a rapidly developing, severe form of meningitis that has a high mortality rate. The patient displayed obscure symptoms, and brain MRI revealed a space-occupying lesion with fluorescence uptake during surgery, suggestive of a high-grade malignancy. The diagnosis of PAM as a high-grade malignant space-occupying lesion was confirmed postmortem through histopathological analysis, a presentation considered exceedingly rare and unprecedented in the literature. https://thejns.org/doi/10.3171/CASE24358.</p>","PeriodicalId":94098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of neurosurgery. Case lessons","volume":"9 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11744689/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143019035","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}