Large cerebellar mass lesion: A rare intracranial manifestation of blastomycosis.

BACKGROUND

Blastomyces dermatitidis is a dimorphic fungus found endemically in the Mississippi and Ohio River basins and in the Midwestern and Canadian provinces that border the Great Lakes. Unlike other fungal infections, it most commonly affects immunocompetent hosts. Blastomycosis typically manifests as pulmonary infection, but may affect nearly any organ, including the skin, bone, and genitourinary system. Central nervous system (CNS) blastomycosis is rare, but potentially fatal manifestation of this disease. When it does occur, it most commonly presents as acute or chronic meningitis.

METHODS

We present a case of a patient who suffered intractable nausea and vomiting for several months before discovery of a large cerebellar blastomycoma causing mass effect and obstructive hydrocephalus. The enhancing lesion with unusual peripheral cystic structures is a unique radiographic appearance of CNS blastomycosis.

CONCLUSIONS

We review this patient's purely intraparenchymal manifestation of CNS blastomycosis and describe the unique imaging characteristics encountered.