Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41578206›Full record

SynthesisBMC infectious diseases2026

Endoscopic and intrathecal management of intraventricular fungal infections: a case report of Cladophialophora bantiana and systematic review.

Jan Oros, Radwan Takroni, Majid S A Aljoghaiman, Clifford Pierre, Daniel F Brown, Marcus Czabanka, Stephen Monteith

Abstract readCase ReportsSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC infectious diseases, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Jan OrosSwedish Neuroscience Institute, Department of Neurosurgery, Seattle, WA, USA. Oros@med.uni-frankfurt.de.
Radwan TakroniSwedish Neuroscience Institute, Department of Neurosurgery, Seattle, WA, USA.
Majid S A AljoghaimanSurgery Department, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Hofuf, Saudi Arabia.
Clifford PierreSwedish Neuroscience Institute, Department of Neurosurgery, Seattle, WA, USA.
Daniel F BrownCellNetix Pathology and Laboratories, Seattle, WA, USA.
Marcus CzabankaDepartment of Neurosurgery, Goethe University Frankfurt, University Hospital, Frankfurt am Main, HE, Germany.
Stephen MonteithSwedish Neuroscience Institute, Department of Neurosurgery, Seattle, WA, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIntraventricular fungal infections are rare and associated with high morbidity and mortality. Diagnosis is often delayed due to nonspecific clinical and radiological findings, and treatment is complicated by limited cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) penetration of systemic antifungal agents. Neuroendoscopic visualization and intrathecal antifungal therapy have been reported only sporadically, and standardized management strategies are lacking. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a 75-year-old male who developed a right temporal lobe abscess caused by Cladophialophora bantiana, confirmed by histopathology, culture, and molecular diagnostics. Despite prolonged systemic antifungal therapy, the patient demonstrated clinical and radiographic progression with intraventricular ventriculitis. Neuroendoscopy enabled direct visualization of pigmented intraventricular fungal lesions, targeted biopsy, ventricular lavage, and placement of an Ommaya reservoir, allowing initiation of intrathecal liposomal amphotericin B with serial CSF drug level monitoring and subsequent radiographic stabilization. To contextualize this case, we performed a systematic literature review of intraventricular fungal infections managed with endoscopic procedures and/or intrathecal or intraventricular antifungal therapy, identifying eleven cases involving Aspergillus spp., Cladophialophora bantiana, Mucorales, and other dematiaceous fungi. Management strategies were highly individualized and typically combined surgical intervention, ventricular access devices, systemic antifungals, and local antifungal administration.

conclusionThis case report and systematic review highlight neuroendoscopy as a key diagnostic and therapeutic tool in intraventricular fungal infections and underscore the frequent need for intrathecal antifungal therapy when systemic treatment is insufficient. Management remains interdisciplinary and individualized, emphasizing the importance of detailed reporting to inform future treatment strategies. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.

Indexed as

Antifungal AgentsAscomycotaCentral Nervous System Fungal InfectionsMycosesNeuroendoscopyAgedAmphotericin BBrain AbscessHumansInjections, SpinalMaleAmphotericin BAntifungal Agentsliposomal amphotericin BBrain abscessCentral nervous system infectionCladophialophora bantianaFungal ventriculitisNeuroendoscopyOmmaya reservoir

Identifiers

PMID41578206
PMCPMC12849263

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.