Aspergillosis of the Central Nervous System Causing Subarachnoid Hemorrhage from Mycotic Aneurysm of the Basilar Artery: Case Report

The authors present an extremely rare case of aspergillosis of the central nervous system (CNS) causing subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). A 78-year-old female developed facial pain, progressive deterioration in left visual acuity, and left total ophthalmoplegia. Computed tomography demonstrated a heterogeneously enhanced mass extending from the sphenoid sinus to the left cavernous sinus and left orbit, and angiography showed luminal narrowing and irregularity of the left internal carotid artery at its siphon. Biopsy of the left orbital and sphenoid sinus mass resulted in the diagnosis of Aspergillus granuloma. Despite combined administration of amphotericin-B and 5-FC, she became comatose from brainstem infarction and finally, suddenly died. Postmortem examination revealed massive SAH due to a ruptured mycotic aneurysm of the basilar artery. Aspergillosis of the CNS is a growing problem with the wider use of immunosuppressants and antibiotics. To the authors' knowledge, however, only 13 cases of CNS aspergillosis causing SAH have been reported. The prognosis is absolutely bad, with all patients dying from rupture of major intracranial arteries such as the internal carotid artery and basilar artery. Early diagnosis and vigorous chemotherapy are important.