title: [Brain abscess. A difficult diagnosis?].
abstract: It is vital to diagnose brain abscess early, but this can be intricate. Four cases of brain abscess are described, illustrating the diagnostic difficulties. One of the patients had multiple brain abscesses. Important aspects of brain abscess are discussed. Brain abscess should be suspected in cases of increasing intracranial pressure combined with focal neurological signs or epileptic seizures, even with no apparent signs of infection. The characteristic contrast-enhancing ring lesion and surrounding oedema may be sufficient for diagnosis, but biopsy and bacteriological culture are often necessary. Epileptic seizures and various neurological sequelae are common, even if the abscess is treated immediately. Delay in diagnosis may lead to fatal outcome.
authors.affiliation: Nevrologisk avdeling Fylkessjukehuset i Molde.
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Harbo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001922:Brain Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
vernacular_title: Hjerneabścess. En vanskelig diagnose?