Intracranial Suppurations in Togo: Etiologies and Treatment

Objective: Intracranial suppurations are a cosmopolitan pathology whose prevalence depend of the region of the world. They are mostly caused by otolaryngological infections. Despite the progress, they remain serious diseases in Africa. The objective of this study was to report the epidemiology, clinical and etiological aspects of intracranial suppurations in Togo. Method: This was a retrospective and descriptive study carried out from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2020 including all cases of intracranial suppuration treated in the neurosurgery unit of Sylvanus Olympio university hospital in Lomé. The evolution was evaluated at discharge, at 3 and 6 months after. Results: We collected 185 cases of intracranial suppuration. The average age of the patients was 12.6 years with a male predominance (72.4%). The main clinical signs were the infectious syndrome (92.4%), intracranial high pressure (51.4%), focal deficit (38.4%) and seizures (20.5%). An otolaryngological infections history was noted within 3 months in 72.4%. The brain CT scan noted a predominance of empyema (63.8%) mostly subdural (64.4%). Radiological sinusitis was found in 57.3%. We identified etiology in 69.2% predominated by otolaryngological causes. Patients received medical and surgical treatment in 77.3%. The bacteriology was positive only in 7 cases. The mortality rate was 15.1%, mostly no operated cases (78.6%). At 6 months 84% recovered without sequelae. The predictive prognostic factors for mortality were: coma (p 0.001), absence of surgical treatment (p 0.02). Conclusion: Intracranial suppuration remains frequent in our country, mainly due to otolaryngological pathologies. The clinical presentation is not always specific and Bergman’s triad is rarely complete. The results of treatment are good if it is early.

Intracranial Meningiomas among Intracranial Tumors in the Neurosurgical Unit of Sylvanus Olympio Teaching Hospital

Objective: To describe the pattern of intracranial tumors in Sylvanus Olympio teaching hospital of Lomé (Togo). Method: We conducted a retrospective and descriptive study between November 2017 and December 2019. Data were obtained from the clinical records of patients with intracranial tumors treated in our neurosurgery unit, and histology obtained. Patients without a definitive histological diagnosis were excluded. Results: 53 patients were operated and had a histological diagnosis in the period of the study. The mean age at diagnosis was 32 ± 27.1 years. The majority of tumors were seen in adults at 88.7% with age range between 23 - 75 years and a mean age of 40 ± 10.5 years. Meningioma was the commonest intracranial tumor in adults (47.2%) and more seen in females. The histological type of meningioma is meningotheliomatous in our study. In children, principal tumors were medulloblastoma and ependymoma (11.3%). Conclusion: Meningioma is the most common intracranial tumor in adults, while embryonal tumors (medulloblastoma and ependymoma) are the most frequent in children in our environment.