Management of brain stem abscess

The brain stem is an uncommon site of a brain abscess. Such lesions were invariably fatal before 1974, when the arrival of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging improved the prognosis. This new case with a good result shows the usefulness of early diagnosis, careful clinical and radiological monitoring and combined medical and surgical management. A child 2 1/2 years of age was admitted to the department of neurosurgery for diagnosis and treatment of a brain stem lesion. The clinical context and discovery of an intrabronchial foreign body, as well as neuroradiological investigations, suggested a diagnosis of brain stem abscess. Initial treatment with broad spectrum antibiotics with good cerebral penetration was associated with an increase in the size of the abscess and clinical worsening. Stereotactic aspiration of lesion was performed by a transpeduncular approach under CT guidance and general anaesthesia. Secondary thoracotomy enabled removal of an intrabronchial needle. After evacuation, in spite of failure to identify the organism, neurological deficit resolved rapidly and the lesion no longer appeared on CT. Management of a brain abscess always includes antibiotics. They must cover the organisms most often encountered in brain abscesses and have good cerebral penetration. Medical treatment seems to suffice for small abscesses. A brain stem abscess with rapid clinical signs, together with current neuroradiogical diagnostic techniques, enables early discovery of such abscesses when they are still small. Treatment of brain stem abscesses includes primary antibiotic therapy, then stereotaxic drainage when there is any diagnostic doubt, poor clinical tolerability or antibiotic resistance.     

Abscess of the brain (2nd report)--special reference to surgical indication of extracapsular excision of brain abscess (author's transl)]

Brain abscess persists as a serious diagnostic problem and critical therapeutic challenge since pre-antibiotic era. After antibiotic agents has been introduced, abscess of the brain seems to be a surgical curable intracranial suppurative disease, although surgical mortality and morbidity due to brain abscess are still distressingly high. Recently, the incidence of brain abscess are gradually increasing. In this present situation, it is necessary to reevaluate the previous method and surgical results of brain abscess. Even with new surgical techniques and antibiotics, the mortality rate and number of neurological deficits remain high, as previously methods, it is most important how to eliminate these problems. It was undertaken to determine the significant factors affecting the clinical management of patients with this serious problem. The general outlines of our neurosurgical treatment are given, with emphasis on our surgical schedule of brain abscess, especially brain abscess in congenital heart disease. In this paper, a review of the current status of the surgical methods, operative mortality and morbidity, diagnostic methods and the therapy of brain abscess has been discussed.     

Multiloculated pyogenic brain abscess: experience in 25 patients

OBJECTIVE: To report our experience in treating multiloculated pyogenic brain abscess and determine whether there are differences in the bacteriology, predisposing factors, treatment choices, and outcomes between multiloculated and uniloculated brain abscesses. METHODS: We studied clinical data collected during a 16-year period from 124 patients with pyogenic brain abscess, including 25 cases of multiloculated abscess. RESULTS: The incidence of multiloculated brain abscess was 20%. In these 25 patients, hematogenous spread from a remote infectious focus was the most common cause of infection, as it was for the cases of uniloculated abscess. Headache and hemiparesis were the most common symptoms in patients with multiloculated abscess. In patients with uniloculated abscess, fever was the most common symptom. Viridans streptococci were the most commonly isolated pathogens. Bacteroides fragilis was the most common anaerobe in multiloculated abscess, and aerobic gram-negative bacilli were the most common pathogens in patients with uniloculated abscess. Of the patients with multiloculated abscess, 21 were treated surgically and 4 were treated with antibiotics only. Overall, eight patients (38%) needed another operation because of abscess recurrence after the initial operation. In uniloculated abscess, the rate of abscess recurrence after initial surgery was 13.1%. Mortality was 16% in multiloculated abscess and 17.1% in uniloculated abscess. CONCLUSION: Multiloculated abscesses accounted for 20% of our patients with pyogenic brain abscess. Excision seems to be the more appropriate surgical choice in multiloculated abscess. Prognosis for patients with multiloculated abscess can be as good as that for patients with uniloculated abscess. However, clinicians must carefully monitor these patients because the possibility of recurrence after surgery is significantly higher in patients with multiloculated abscess than in those with uniloculated abscess.     

Diagnostic problems in brain abscess: 45 cases

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We analysed the difficulties encountered in the differential diagnosis between brain abscess and brain tumor and their influence on treatment and outcome. METHODS: - Forty-five adults with brain abscess operated on between 1993 and 1999 were retrospectively reviewed. We studied preoperative diagnosis, clinical, radiological, bacteriological findings, surgical procedure, primary sources of infection and outcome. RESULTS: Preoperative diagnosis was right in 55.6% (25/45), wrong in 22.2% (10/45) and doubtful in 22.2% (10/45). Diffusion-weighted MR imaging was successfully used in 4 doubtful cases to make the differential diagnosis between abscess and tumor. When the preoperative diagnosis was right, the surgical procedure was a burr-hole aspiration in 73.3% (22/25) whereas when it was wrong, an excision was performed in 60% (6/10) of the cases. Aspiration was the last diagnostic investigation in 80% (8/10) of doubtful cases. Microbacterial organisms were identified in 75.5% (34/45) of the cases and primary cause of infection in 62.2% (28/45). The outcome depended on clinical status on admission, preoperative diagnosis and surgical procedure. In four cases, diffusion-weighted MRI allowed differential diagnosis between brain abscess and tumor through calculation of the Apparent Diffusion Coefficient which is low in abscess and high in cystic tumor. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of brain abscess remains difficult in certain patients. Correct preoperative diagnosis influences the decision on the appropriate surgical procedure and helps improve outcome.     

Abscess of the brain

Antibiotic and chemotherapeutic procedures have tremendously reduced the incidence of brain abscesses and this therapy is indicated irrespective of surgical procedures instituted. This form of therapy in its prophylactic efforts has served in more than one experience to chronicize and deter diagnostic concepts.The occurrence of brain abscess formation is still common enough to command the interest of all concerned.There is no clinical picture that characterizes this disease.Eradication ot the focus ot origin of a brain abscess is the first principle in the surgical treatment of these lesions.Accurate localization of the abscess process is the second most important surgical consideration—a procedure at times not without grave risk.Total exclusion of the abscess is the surgical goal of treatment and radical efforts to date have been the most effective in this accomplishment.No cure of a brain abscess should be ascribed in any patient without benefit of either a total surgical extirpation of the lesion or a confirmation of the extermination of the disease by pneumoencephalographic studies.     

Brain abscess: an overview

Intracranial abscess is a formidable entity. Despite the advent of newer antibiotics and surgical strategies, the overall outcome and quality of life issues in brain abscess patients still remain a continuous challenge for the neurosurgical community. It is a direct interplay between the virulence of the offending microorganism and the immune response of the host. An analysis of our experience in the 289 cases of surgically treated pyogenic brain abscess is presented along with an overview of intra-cranial abscess of varied etiology and in different locations. The etiology, pathogenesis, radiological advances and treatment modalities of brain abscess are discussed in light of current literature.     

Asymptomatic brain abscess as a complication of halo orthosis: Report of a case and review of the literature

The halo external orthosis has been used extensively for cervical immobilization after spine surgery or trauma, usually without serious complications. However, nine brain abscesses have been reported as complications following the use of halo orthosis. We report on a 53-year-old man who underwent anterior cervical fusion for cervical myelopathy, followed by the application of a halo orthosis. Approximately 4 weeks postfusion, loosening of the right anterior pin was recognized and the pin was tightened, as the pin-site was clean. One week later, purulent material was discharged from the pin hole when the pin was removed after it had loosened again. Enhanced computed tomography (CT) demonstrated an abscess on the right side of the brain. After the administration of antibiotics, the abscess resolved without surgical intervention. We describe asymptomatic brain abscess complicating the use of a halo orthosis and review the clinical features, symptoms, and outcomes; we also discuss the mechanism that induced brain abscess. Most reported cases of abscess have been associated with pin-site infection or tightening after late pin loosening. The present case indicates the importance of early recognition of symptoms and signs associated with brain abscess in patients with a halo orthosis. Received for publication on June 22, 1998; accepted on Aug. 28, 1998     

Hirnabscess bei retroperitoneal perforierter Colondiverticulitis

The most frequent complications in diverticular disease are local abscess, perforation with peritoneal sepsis, fistula and ileus. Extraabdominal manifestation is an actual rarity. A haematogenous bacterial spread via portal vein with formation of liver abscess has seldom been described. But a complicated diverticular disease as a cause for a brain abscess is an absolute rarity. Our case presents a patient with brain abscess caused by asymptomatic, retroperitoneal perforated colonic diverticulosis. We discuss diagnostic steps both in diverticular disease and brain abscess and different surgical options in the treatment of colonic complicated diverticular disease.     

不典型症状的儿童脑脓肿临床分析

目的分析症状不典型的儿童脑脓肿的临床特点及其诊治策略。方法回顾性分析46例脑脓肿患儿的临床表现及相关检查资料。结果临床表现有发热31例,呕吐25例,头痛21例;脓肿好发于颞叶,以单发脓肿多见;细菌培养阳性率52.4%;手术治疗24例,保守和手术治疗有效率分别为86.4%和87.5%,总死亡率8.7%。结论儿童脑脓肿的症状隐匿,头颅CT扫描有助于早期确诊,治疗方案应结合病情有所选择。     

Intramedullary lesions of the conus medullaris: differential diagnosis and surgical management

The medullary conus represents a distinct entity of the spinal cord regarding its anatomical, clinical and microsurgical features. An overview of the pathologic processes of this region is provided. Epidemiological, clinical and neuroradiological characteristics of neoplastic (glial tumors, non-glial tumors, metastasis, primary melanomas) and non-neoplastic lesions (granulomatous lesions, abscess, parasitic infections, vascular, demyelinating and dysembryogenetic lesions) are discussed. Main MR imaging characteristics used to differentiate neoplastic from non-neoplastic lesions consist in pathological spinal cord expansion, gadolinium-enhancement and tumoural cyst formation. Management strategies differ substantially, depending on the kind of lesion. According to the suspected pathological entity radical resection, biopsy or conservative treatments are reasonable options. Intraoperative electrophysiological monitoring is a fundamental part of the surgical setting.     

A clinical survey of brain abscess (3rd report): special reference to chronological analysis of EEG on brain abscess (author's transl)]

The attention of those concerned with the management of intracranial abscess has been largely directed to a study of the findings in clinicopathological and neuroradiological investigations. Our object, in this communication is to arouse interest in the electroencephalographic survey, especially chronological electroencephalographic study of absecess patients. The clinical material forming the basis of this study is drawn from a series of 46 consecutive cases of intracranial abscess treated, during 3 years, in the neurosurgical department of Tokyo Women's Medical College.     

腹膜后脓肿的诊断和治疗

目的探讨腹膜后脓肿的原因、诊断和治疗方法。方法对我院1993年～2007年收治的腹膜后脓肿38例的临床资料进行回顾性分析。结果本组38例均治愈出院。其中，发生应激性溃疡消化道出血4例，急性肾功能衰竭3例，均经药物治疗和／或血液透析治愈。平均住院时间为3．5个月。结论提高对腹膜后脓肿的警惕性、尽早明确诊断、采取及时有效的引流并加强营养支持是治疗成功的关键。     

Cavernous angiomas of the lateral ventricles

Background  Cavernous angiomas are vascular malformations which rarely involve the cavities of the lateral ventricles. Knowledge of the specific clinical and neuroradiological features displayed by these lesions is limited by the scarcity of patients included in the reported series. Objective and methods  The aim of this study was to compile and analyse the epidemiological, clinical, neuroradiological and surgical characteristics of these lesions as provided by the well-described examples reported in the scientific literature. A total of 49 were gathered, including three patients operated on recently in our Department. Findings and conclusions  Cavernomas developing within the ventricular cavities attain a larger size than parenchymal counterpart lesions, causing symptoms and signs derived mainly from the mass effect. The characteristic parenchymal hypointense rim is less frequently identified on T2-weighted echo-gradient MRI sequences. Total surgical excision is the treatment of choice for these lesions, yet the surgical routes employed may still be associated with a high rate of neurological complications.     

Diffusion-weighted MR imaging in the preoperative assessment of brain abscesses

BACKGROUND

Diffusion-weighted MR imaging (DWI) has recently shown promise in differentiating ring-enhancing lesions such as brain abscess and malignant neoplasm. The ability of DWI to strongly suggest brain abscess enables a neurosurgeon to alter stereotactic planning to optimize diagnosis. We report our experience with DWI in 5 patients with lesions on MR imaging and review the literature to assess the usefulness of this technique in the preoperative evaluation of cerebral abscess.

METHODS

The MR images of 5 patients presenting with ring-enhancing lesions that ultimately proved to be brain abscesses were retrospectively reviewed. In addition to standard MR sequences, trace DWI and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) calculations were performed on all patients. Additionally, 15 recently published articles or references in press concerning DWI in cerebral abscesses were reviewed.

RESULTS

All lesions were markedly hyperintense on DWI and had diminished ADC. Thirty-eight of 39 previously reported abscesses were hyperintense on DWI with reduced ADC. Of 165 nonpyogenic lesions with DWI findings, 87 were hypointense or isointense, 78 lesions had variable hyperintensities, and few manifested the degree of hyperintensity observed with abscesses. Most of these included chordomas and epidermoids, which are not likely to be confused with abscesses.

CONCLUSIONS

Restricted water diffusion, as indicated by hyperintensity on DWI and low ADC, in ring-enhancing lesions assists in differentiating brain abscess from necrotic tumor. This information facilitates stereotactic surgical planning: abscesses should be preferentially centrally aspirated, whereas necrotic brain tumors should have diagnostic tissue biopsied from cavity walls. Although not definitive for brain abscess, restricted water diffusion is an important MR imaging sign and is useful in neurosurgical treatment strategies for ring-enhancing lesions.     

Drainage of Aspergillus "primitive" brain abscess with long-term survival. Case report

Aspergillus species are second only to Candidosis as the most common cause of fungal infections of the central nervous system in immunocompromised patients. Very rare is the sole abscessual cerebral localization in nonimmunocompromised patients. Successful treatment of Aspergillus brain abscess has been reported only few times. A case of Aspergillus "primitive" brain abscess treated by surgical therapy associated with local and general mirated antifungal therapy is described. The long-term survival with complete clinical and radiological recovery is reported.     

Spontaneous evacuation of cerebellar abscess through the middle ear. A case report

Otogenic brain abscesses are a significant cause of mortality and morbidity in developing countries. Usually they occur either by distant-thrombophlebitis of cerebral veins or by direct extension in an unsafe type of chronic suppurative otitis media. This case of cerebellar abscess was prepared for surgical excision, when sudden evacuation of pus through the left middle ear resolved the abscess and clinical features in the patient. No surgical intervention was required in this patient. The case under discussion is unique and unreported for its spontaneous evacuation through the middle ear.     

Clinical analysis and results of operative treatment of 41 brain abscesses

In this study, 41 cases of cerebral abscess operated on in our clinics between 1977 and 1986 were investigated retrospectively. The surgical strategy and the factors affecting the mortality rate were discussed. It was confirmed that the most important factor affecting the mortality rate was the consciousness level of patients in the preoperative period. The importance of computed tomography (CT) for early diagnosis and management of brain abscess is stressed.     

A case of amebic brain abscess

Amebic brain abscess is a rare and usually fatal complication of Entamoeba histolytica infections. We successfully treated a patient with this infection accompanied by brain, liver and pulmonary abscesses. Treatment consisted of administration of metronidazole through a nasogastric tube, and drainage of the brain abscess. A 51-year-old male patient presented with a two-week history of fever, severe back pain, and chest pain. Liver and pulmonary abscesses were drained upon admission. Biopsy of the colon showed infection by Entamoeba histolytica. After oral administration of metronicazole, the patient became somnolent, and neurological examination showed left side weakness. CT scan and MRI of the brain disclosed an abnormal lesion in the right basal ganglia. He was then transferred to our department, where stereotactic aspiration with drainage of the brain abscess was performed. The abscess was filled with reddish purulent material. Treatment with metronidazole (1,200 mg daily) for 18 days resulted in almost complete resolution of the intracerebral lesion and survival of the patient without any neurological deficits. His general condition improved dramatically, and he was discharged from our hospital 2 months later. Only 14 cases with amebic brain abscess associated with Entamoeba histolytica infection who recovered after treatment have been reported. We suggest amebic brain abscess should be taken into consideration for patients with brain abscess with a history of dysenteric illness especially since early diagnosis and aggressive management is likely to result in a cure.     

Intracranial infection as a common complication following war missile skull base injury

The purpose of this paper is to stress the importance of clinical observation, the appropriate antimicrobial therapy, and early surgery in the management of intracranial infection following war missile penetrating skull base injury. There were 21 skull base missile injuries treated surgically in a 4-year period. Careful removal of devitalised brain tissue with dural closure was performed with all patients to prevent the development of intracranial infection. Subsequent clinical and radiological surveillance was performed to detect evidence of infection and abscess formation if fragments were left in place. Broad range antibiotic coverage, and the antioedematous agents were applied in the early postoperative period. Infection about the brain was seen in four cases. We recorded three cases of brain abscess formation, while one patient developed bacterial meningitis. The incidence of infectious complications was relatively high in our series. After the organisms causing infection were known, treatment was modified to be as specific as possible. It was not necessary to reoperate on intracranially retained foreign bodies and fragments since they did not increase the infection rate. However, repeated surgery is necessary for a brain abscess.