Fungal aneurism of the right posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA)

Abstract

In this case-report, the Authors show the case of a sudden death occurred in a 38-year-old woman submitted to surgical excision of a right acoustic neurinoma. At the autopsy, was detected a cerebral hemorrhage with multifocal localization by a ruptured rare fungal aneurysm of the Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Arthery (PICA). The PCR analysis, carried out on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue, identified the Aspergillus Penicillioides as the involved pathogen.We discuss the main points of infectious aneurysms, being a potential neurosurgical complication. Keywords: Fungal aneurysm, Sudden death, Autopsy, Aspergillus, Forensic pathology