Rapidly growing tumor-like brain lesion.

Listeria monocytogenes accounts for 8-11% of the cases of bacterial meningitis which is associated with high mortality in patients with serious underlying diseases or those receiving immunosuppressive treatment. Brain abscess due to L. monocytogenes is a very rare occurrence. The case reported here concerns a 54-year-old female patient with a rapidly growing tumor-like brain lesion. L. monocytogenes type 4b could be cultured from blood and brain biopsy. Despite antimicrobial therapy with ampicillin and gentamicin, the patient died 11 days after admission to the hospital. The growing numbers of elderly and immunocompromised patients will increasingly confront physicians with patients with listeriosis. Delayed therapy in patients treated with corticosteroids may result in a fatal outcome.