Primary pituitary abscess is a rare clinical condition at a young age. It is characterised by atypical clinical features which makes the diagnosis difficult. Correct diagnosis and therapy are mandatory due to the potentially lethal outcome. We report the case of a 14-year-old healthy boy. The onset was acute with fever, gait imbalance, slurring of speech and amnesia. MRI brain revealed a hyperintense lesion in T2-weighted image (T2WI) in sellar and suprasellar region, which was hypointense in T1WI. After administration of contrast, there was peripheral rim enhancement suggesting pituitary abscess. The diagnosis was confirmed following evacuation of purulent material, during surgery, through a trans-sphenoidal approach. Postoperatively, the boy needed prolonged intensive care support. He was discharged on day 42 after surgery. Follow-up at 3 months revealed complete motor recovery. He required hormone replacement and was intermittently showing features suggestive of frontal lobe syndrome.
Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) is an inherited abnormality of steroid synthesis. It is usually diagnosed in the early neonatal period. Its association with white matter abnormalities in the developing brain has been reported. Cerebral infarction is one of the rarely associated complications of classical CAH. A 5-year-old child had presented with features of acute onset fever, refractory new-onset seizure, and altered sensorium. He was a known case of CAH, on regular exogenous steroid supplementation. Investigations revealed that he had extensive hemorrhagic cerebral infarction. No underlying infective or vascular cause could be detected to explain the etiology of cerebral infarction in this child. Hence, the effect of CAH on the developing brain and an inadequate escalation of steroid dose during stress have led to the cerebral infarction.
Spontaneous arteriovenous communications below the diaphragm is a very rare condition. Its association with polysplenia has perhaps not yet been reported in children. We reported a case in a 9-year-old boy presenting with acute onset of fever, vomiting, headache, seizures and altered sensorium. A CT scan revealed a large occipital abscess which was drained surgically. On examination he had marked central cyanosis and grade III clubbing of fingers and toes. Further investigations led to the discovery of a very rare finding of abdominal arteriovenous malformation associated with multiple-enhancing structures around the splenic bed suggestive of polysplenia. We believe that the most likely cause of the brain abscess was paradoxical embolism through the abdominal arteriovenous communication. Unfortunately the parents did not consent to a surgical correction of the malformation, realising the risks involved in the procedure. Subsequently the boy was lost in follow-up.
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