| Brain Abscess:
Axial CT scan. Note the large circular hypodense area in the
right temporal lobe. Also note the prominent mass effect on the third
and lateral ventricles. Neurosurgical aspiration revealed pus
and numerous gram positive cocci. Intracranial abscesses can occur in the epidural and subdural space as well as in the brain parenchyma. Infection most often occurs from spread through the blood system, or from direct invasion of an infection from an adjacent structure (e.g., sinusitis, otitis, mastoiditis, etc). Patients most often present subacutely over days to a few weeks with fever, headache, and/or focal neurological signs, including seizures. |
Revised
11/23/06
Copyrighted 2006. David C Preston