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Neurological picture
CNS Actinomycosis presenting with bilateral cavernous sinus syndrome
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  1. NEIL R HOLLAND,
  2. ELLEN DEIBERT
  1. Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA
  1. Dr Neil R Holland, Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins Hospital, 600 North Wolfe Street/Carnegie 214, Baltimore MD 21287-6220, USA. Telephone 001 410 614 1216; fax 001 410 614 2271.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/jnnp.64.1.4

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    This 47 year old woman presented with subacute bilateral eye redness and pain. She was febrile with signs of meningismus. She had bilateral exophthalmos and chemosis, left ptosis (figure top left), and complete bilateral ophthalmoplegia. Her CSF contained 73 white blood cells/mm3 (63% neutrophils) and 7 red blood cells/mm3, with a protein concentration of 1.3 g/l and a glucose concentrationof 0.55 g/l (<10% of a simultaneous blood glucose concentration). Microbiological studies on the CSF were negative. Cranial MR images showed an enhancing parasellar mass extending into both cavernous sinuses (figure top right). A trans-sphenoidal biopsy of this mass demonstrated acute inflammation with sulfur granules typical of actinomycocis (figure bottom left). Her primary focus was thought to be a dental infection, related to dental caries. She was treated with a prolonged course of high dose intravenous penicillin, and made a complete recovery.