| Brain Abscess:
(Left) axial CT scan with contrast;
(Right) T1-weighted with gadolinium coronal MRI. Note the ring enhancement both on the CT and MRI
scans
surrounding a central necrotic cavity. This is an abscess. The CT
and MRI picture of an abscess can mimic that of a tumor. They often occur at the grey-white junction, and develop prominent ring enhancement surrounded by edema. 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
11/15/06
Copyrighted 2006. David C Preston