Listeria Monocytogenes Brain Abscesses in a Patient with Disseminated Non-Small Cellular Lung Cancer: MRI Findings

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

This manuscript by Anders Lykkemark Simonsen et al. describe a case report on L. monocytogenes brain abcesses with neoplasia.

This manuscript describe a severe disease that was already presented in the literature. Nevertheless, an extensive revision process was performed by the authors. A last one remains.

For neurological problems/reduced consciousness, please refer to an appropriate scale (Glasgow?)

• The patient was admitted at the oncological department and a Glasgow Coma Scale was not registered. From the clinical record we would guess that the patient had a Glasgow Coma Score between 13 (E3, V4, M6) and 14 (E4, V4, M6), but it cannot be exactly deciphered, therefor it is not included.
  --> It could be of interest to categorize into two different classes > or < GCS 11, in order to distinguish coma/conscious phases.

Author Response

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Reviewer 2 Report

The authors describe an interesting and rare case of LM abscesses in a patient suffering from Non small cells lung cancers. The presentation of the case is good from a clinical point of view, but since the article is under the "interesting images" section, I would expect an overview of LM appearance on MRI in the discussion focusing on differential diagnosis with mets. Moreover the appearance of these lesions looks more a "tramline-like" pattern.

Author Response

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Reviewer 3 Report

The authors have answered all the concerns raised by the reviewers.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.docx

This manuscript is a resubmission of an earlier submission. The following is a list of the peer review reports and author responses from that submission.

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

This article by Anders Lykkemark Simonsen et al. describe MRI finding during a L.monocytogenes diagnostic in a patient under neoplasia treatment.

This article suffers from a lack of precision and novelty.

Figure 1 could be placed after the first paragraph.

all number <12 should be written in full letter (and when theybegan a sentence also). Another type problem : i. e. has to be written in italic.

All laboratory asssays have to be correctly referenced (manufacturers names, location, norms ...). A microbiologist's advice could be of interest to add in the authors'list.

For the prednisolone dose, indicate the equivalent dose in mg/kg

For neurological problems/reduced consciousness, please refer to an appropriate scale (Glasgow?)

MRI images could be fused to compared them in a time-to-time approach, easier to understand. Moreover, please indicate the lesion to ease the understanding.

The publication was written when the patient was alive or dead ? Because it is surprising that the consent was obtained, considering that the patient passed away at the end of the clinical history (and present reduced consciousness in between)...