Streptococcus pneumoniae (S pneumoniae) is a common cause of bacterial meningitis, frequently leading to death or severe neurological impairment. We report an exceptional case of a 4-month-old boy with meningitis caused by S pneumoniae. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations of the brain showed bilateral symmetrical necrosis involving the lentiform and caudate nuclei, as well as the thalamus. T1-weighted MR images showed patchy areas of increased signal intensity, consistent with hemorrhagic transformation of the lesions. Autopsy revealed widespread necrosis of the basal ganglia with clear signs of vasculitis. Severe complications of S pneumoniae meningoencephalitis are known in infants but to our knowledge, such lesions in the basal ganglia have only been reported thrice in adults and never in children.

Tuberculosis in pregnancy is possibly increasing in Western Europe due to a higher incidence in immigrant women from endemic regions. Common in recent immigrants. Diagnosis during pregnancy is delayed because the disease is more frequently extra-pulmonary with few symptoms and western doctors are no longer familiar with signs and symptoms of tuberculosis. We report the case of a 28-year-old woman presenting in the 13th week of pregnancy with vaginal bleeding, respiratory symptoms including persistent coughing and fever since 1 month. Diagnosis was delayed because of doubts on taking x-rays during pregnancy, and only 6 days after admission chest x-ray and blood-cultures led to diagnose miliary tuberculosis. Despite tuberculostatic medication expulsion of an infected fetus and placenta occurred. Histological examination of the placenta confirmed tuberculosis in the placental tissue.

No abstract

Pulmonary ossifications have often been regarded as rare, post-mortem findings without any clinical significance. We have investigated the occurrence of pulmonary ossifications in patients undergoing thoracic procedures, and how this may affect the differential diagnosis of solitary pulmonary nodules. In addition, we have performed a literature search on the occurrence and possible pathogenesis of these ossifications. From January 2008 until August 2019, we identified pulmonary ossifications in 34 patients who underwent elective pulmonary surgery. Pre-operative imaging was unable to differentiate these ossifications from solid tumors. A definitive diagnosis was made by an experienced pathologist (VS, ML). The PubMed database was researched in December 2019 with the search terms “pulmonary ossifications”; “heterotopic ossifications”; and “solitary pulmonary nodule”. In total, 27 patients were male, with a mean age of 63 ± 12 years (age 41 to 82 on diagnosis). All lesions were identified on thoracic CT and marked for resection by a multidisciplinary team. A total of 17 patients were diagnosed with malignancy concurrent with ossifications. There was a clear predilection for the right lower lobe (12 cases, 35.3%) and most ossifications had a nodular form (70.6%). We could not identify a clear association with any other pathology, either cancerous or non-cancerous in origin. Oncologic or pulmonary comorbidities did not influence patient survival. Pulmonary ossifications are not as seldom as thought and are not just a curiosity finding by pathologists. These formations may be mistaken for a malignant space-occupying lesion, both pre-and perioperatively, as they are indistinguishable in imaging. We propose these ossifications as an underestimated addition to the differential diagnosis of a solitary pulmonary nodule.