First reported case of hydrocephalus in jointly diagnosed bacterial meningitis and a colloid cyst: how Ockham’s razor became Hickam’s dictum

May, G., Lammy, S. , Kumar, A., Hegde, A. and St. George, E. J. (2022) First reported case of hydrocephalus in jointly diagnosed bacterial meningitis and a colloid cyst: how Ockham’s razor became Hickam’s dictum. British Journal of Neurosurgery, 36(3), pp. 420-423. (doi: 10.1080/02688697.2022.2077911) (PMID:35608085)

Abstract

We report the first case in the literature of acute hydrocephalus due to a simultaneous diagnosis of bacterial (not asceptic) meningitis and a colloid cyst. Diagnosing disease is the cornerstone skill of a medical practitioner. Both education and experience allow for sharpening of this skill throughout years of medical practice. Disease is fraught with nuances and inconsistencies which can render an accurate diagnosis a difficult task. Medical practitioners can be guilty of cognitive biases such as Ockham’s razor. We present the case of a patient with an initial diagnosis of obstructive hydrocephalus secondary to a colloid cyst. However, pneumococcal meningitis blunted Ockham’s razor in favour of Hickam’s dictum.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Lammy, Dr Simon
• Authors: May, G., Lammy, S., Kumar, A., Hegde, A., and St. George, E. J.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing
• Journal Name: British Journal of Neurosurgery
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• ISSN: 0268-8697
• ISSN (Online): 1360-046X
• Published Online: 24 May 2022
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2022 The Authors
• First Published: First published in British Journal of Neurosurgery 36(3): 420-423
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License