A case of Osler-Weber-Rendu disease with brain abscess; the mechanism of the formation of brain abscess and its treatment in Osler-Weber-Rendu disease

A 54 year-old man, who had a hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (Osler-Weber-Rendu disease; O-W-R) accompanied by pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas (PAVFs) and congestive heart failure, developed seizure, right hemiparesis and dysphasia. A brain CT scan revealed a cystic lesion with perifocal edema in left frontoparietal lobe. A contrast enhanced CT scan showed a ring-like enhancement. Dynamic CT scans disclosed that the ring in the cortical side was enhanced more thickly than that in the ventricular side. Considering the severity of the cardio-pulmonary condition, and the deep location of the abscess, we performed an echo-guided aspiration and drainage of the abscess under local anesthesia. No bacteria were demonstrated in the culture of the contents of the abscess. After the surgery, the right hemiparesis and dysphasia were much improved and a CT scan showed the marked reduction of the abscess. However, around eight days after the surgery, the patient showed severe pleural effusion due to progressive heart failure and died on the 11th postoperative day. Autopsy disclosed a shrunken brain abscess, multiple cerebral infarction, multiple PAVFs and severe constrictive pericarditis which was regarded as the cause of death in the patient. In this report, we presented the therapeutic advantage of echo-guided surgery for the treatment of brain abscess in a high-risk patient. We also discussed the mechanism of the formation of brain abscess in patients of O-W-R disease by reviewing published cases.