title: Multiple brain abscesses: an initial presentation in a child with an undiagnosed sinus venosus atrial septal defect.
abstract: Cerebral abscess is a serious condition and in children the commonest cause is cyanotic congenital heart disease. We report a 12-year old male who presented with multiple brain abscesses. After an extensive evaluation including a transesphageal echocardiogram (TEE), we found a previously undiagnosed sinus venous atrial septal defect (ASD). He was treated medically with antibiotics. This is an unusual initial presentation of asymptomatic acynotic congenital heart disease in children. We recommended a complete cardiac evaluation including TEE with saline contrast study in the work up of an idiopathic cerebral abscess.
authors.affiliation: Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, 1 Brookdale Plaza, Brooklyn, NY 11212, United States.
authors.forename: Rukhsana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Abdullah
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baldauf
authors.forename: Shabana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Azam
authors.forename: Mohamud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hassanein
authors.forename: Sarita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dhuper
mesh_terms: D001922:Brain Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male