title: Abscess superimposed on brain tumor: two case reports and review of the literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An abscess involving an already present brain tumor is a rare occurrence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two cases of an abscess superimposed on a brain tumor are presented and discussed. The medical literature is reviewed, and all reported cases are compared to our own.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 15 cases of an abscess associated with a brain tumor were found in the literature, to which we add 2 of our own. About 60% were intrasellar or parasellar tumors. The origin of such an abscess at this location is by direct extension of the germs from a contiguous infected sinus. Our 2 additional cases were away from the sinuses. One is an ependymoma of the posterior fossa, and the other, a falcotentorial occipital meningioma, each with a superimposed abscess.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We propose an alternate route for the formation of an abscess in conjunction with a brain tumor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, American University of Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: S I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Nassar
authors.forename: F S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Haddad
authors.forename: F S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Hanbali
authors.forename: N V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Kanaan
mesh_terms: D001922:Brain Abscess / Q000150:complications*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D002551:Cerebral Ventricle Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004806:Ependymoma / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D008579:Meningioma / Q000150:complications