The usefulness of abscess tonsillectomy followed by intraoral drainage for parapharyngeal abscess concomitant with peritonsillar abscess in the elderly

Parapharyngeal abscess (PPA) may cause life-threatening complications and peritonsillar abscess (PTA) and tonsillitis frequently precede PPA. The optimal management of PPA caused by PTA has been the subject of debate with respect to the surgical approach. We present three cases of PPA concomitant with PTA in elderly patients. In two cases, the abscesses in parapharyngeal space were drained by abscess tonsillectomy followed by intraoral incision of the tonsillar bed. On the other hand, the third case did not undergo abscess tonsillectomy because of his refusal of surgery and needed extraoral drainage after the aggravation of PPA. Based on the experience of those three cases, it was suggested that abscess tonsillectomy followed by intraoral incision of the tonsillar bed might be a useful surgical approach for the drainage of PPA concomitant with PTA, especially in elderly patients.     

Radiographic changes induced after cervical facet radiofrequency denervation

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Paraspinal infections after zygapophyseal (facet) radiofrequency denervation (RFD) are a serious but rare complication of this procedure. We are aware of only one case report of an epidural abscess after facet joint injection. PURPOSE: To report post-procedure inflammatory changes after cervical facet RFD. STUDY DESIGN: Case report. PATIENT SAMPLE: A 35-year-old Caucasian female. METHODS: Retrospective case review. RESULTS: The patient underwent cervical RFD and was admitted to the hospital 7 days after her procedure with severe neck pain. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with contrast revealed what appeared to be evidence of a paraspinal muscle abscess although blood tests were negative. She was treated with antibiotic therapy, yet she never developed systemic signs of infection. A follow-up MRI without contrast revealed no evidence of infection, and she was discharged home on hospital day 6. At her first follow-up visit, she was still experiencing scalp pain and paraspinal muscle spasm. During subsequent follow-up visits, she has continued to improve clinically without experiencing signs of infection. Another follow-up MRI 6 weeks after her discharge home revealed persistent minimal left paraspinal enhancement at C2-3, possibly representing post-procedure granulation tissue with no evidence of abscess. CONCLUSIONS: Post-procedural MRI findings after radiofrequency lesioning can resemble radiographic findings associated with a paraspinal abscess. Patients with radiographic findings consistent with abscess should only be treated if clinical signs or symptoms of systemic infection are present.     

Spectra of central nervous system melioidosis

Burkholderia pseudomallei infection of the central nervous system (CNS) is rare with less than 50 cases reported over the last 30 years. The retrospective melioidosis study at University Malaya Medical Centre has documented three cases of CNS melioidosis out of more than 160 cases of melioidosis since 1978. There were two patients with brain abscess and one with spinal epidural abscess. The predisposing factors were: one patient was an aboriginal farmer and the other two were diabetic. Their age ranged from 17 to 45 years. Prominent neurological features were limb weakness, cranial nerve palsy (6th and 7th) and visual disturbance. CT brain scan and MRI spine showed abscess formation, subdural collection, and spinal epidural collection, osteomyelitis of vertebra and occipital bone and also sagital sinus thrombosis. All these patients underwent surgical drainage leading to bacteriological diagnosis as well as appropriate long-term antibiotic therapy. All had good recovery at 6 months after completion of treatment.     

Ultrasound in tropical pyomyositis

Tropical pyomyositis is an infection of muscles mainly presenting in black people, occurring in the trunk and limbs. At Hoima Hospital, Uganda, 58 patients (30 men and 28 women) with a mean age of 21 years have been investigated by ultrasound; a total of 81 lesions were present. Two different characteristic images were found; abscess was present in 65 cases while 16 patients showed a diffuse infiltration among the muscular fibers. These two different images correspond to the two stages of histologic and clinical progression described by other authors. Ultrasound is useful to demonstrate the progression of pyomyositis and to determine when and where to drain any abscess.     

Diagnosis and management of abscesses in the basal ganglia and thalamus: A survey

Summary A review is made of the current management strategies of abscesses in basal ganglia and thalamus, based on a review of the literature and three of our own cases. Clinical picture, aetiology, diagnostic, surgical treatment and outcome are discussed. Stereotactic abscess puncture in combination with temporary drainage and rinsing of the abscess cavity in combination with systemic medication of antibiotics has become the management of choice with satisfactory results.     

Abscess formation after transobturator sling placement: a case report

New techniques of sling placement may be associated with infectious complications. Slings through the obturator foramen and thigh can lead to a significant abscess formation within the thigh adductor muscles. A large thigh abscess associated with a transobturator sling was diagnosed and treated. The authors report the evaluation and treatment of a unique infectious complication of transobturator slings.     

磁共振扩散加权成像技术在颅内囊性病变鉴别诊断中的应用

目的探讨磁共振扩散加权成像（DWI）技术对颅内囊性病变中表皮样囊肿、蛛网膜囊肿、脑脓肿及囊性坏死性脑肿瘤（单发囊性转移瘤、神经上皮肿瘤）的鉴别诊断价值。方法对2004年5月-2006年5月行神经外科手术治疗并经病理证实的50例颅内囊性病变患者的磁共振扩散加权成像资料进行回顾性分析．其中表皮样囊肿10例、蛛网膜囊肿10例、脑脓肿10例、单发囊性转移瘤8例及神经上皮肿瘤12例，均进行常规MRI平扫及DWI检查，生成DWI图及表观扩散系数（ADC）图，观察囊变区信号特征并测量该区的表观扩散系数值。结果（1）表皮样囊肿在扩散加权成像显示为高信号，其表观扩散系数图显示为低或稍低信号，表观扩散系数测量值为（0．924-0．12）×10^-3mm^2／s，蛛网膜囊肿扩散加权成像显示为低信号，表观扩散系数图呈高信号，测量值为（3．094-0．21）×10^-3mm^2／s；两组表观扩散系数测量值差异有统计学意义（t=22．278，P=0．000）。（2）脑脓肿之囊变区于扩散加权成像显示为高信号，表观扩散系数图呈低及等信号，表观扩散系数测量值为（0．524-0．08）×10^-3mm^2／s；单发囊性转移瘤和神经上皮肿瘤之囊变区在扩散加权成像上显示为低信号，表观扩散系数图显示为高信号。表观扩散系数测量值为（2．354-0．41）×10^-3mm^2／s，与脑脓肿组相比差异有统计学意义（t=13．939，P=0．000）。结论不同颅内囊性病变在磁共振扩散加权成像上的表现特点及病灶囊变区表观扩散系数测量值的变化。具有诊断与鉴别诊断价值。     

Amebic abscess of the liver manifested by “hemoptysis”: US,CT, and MRI findings

Ultrasonographic (US), computed tomographic (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of a patient suffering from an amebic abscess of the liver complicated by a bronchohepatic fistula are presented. Subsequent to US, CT provided the specific diagnosis. Multiplanar MRI was valuable to directly visualize the secondary diaphragmatic rupture and the bronchohepatic fistula.