title: Unusual complications and presentations of intracranial abscess: experience of a single institution.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Complicating events and unusual presentations associated with intracranial abscess are rare but potentially fatal conditions. This study was undertaken to shed light on the unusual complications and presentations of intracranial abscess treated at a single institution.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed 116 cases of intracranial abscesses that were treated at our institution over the last 10 years and identified 11 (9.4%) cases with unusual complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  These complications consisted of (1) rupture within the abscess, (2) hemorrhage into the abscess, (3) hemispheric infarction due to ICA thrombosis, (4) acute visual loss due to pituitary abscess, (5) acute neurologic deterioration due to rapid gas formation within the abscess, (6) acute hydrocephalus, (7) trigeminal neuralgia, (8) fungal abscess developing secondary to intracranial extension of a temporal bone tumor, (9) Cryptococcus abscess with different morphology, (10) pontine infarction, and (11) sigmoid sinus thrombosis. Sinusitis accompanied 8 (72.7%) of the cases, and there were 5 (45.4%) mortalities. Culture results were unyielding in 4 patients, whereas Streptococcus species were identified in 4 and fungi in the rest.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intracranial abscesses and their complications still continue to be challenging entities in the neurosurgical practice. Our experience may provide an informational source for those who are taking care of patients with intracranial abscess.
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Uludağ University School of Medicine, Gorukle Campus, Bursa 16059, Turkey. hkocaeli@uludag.edu.tr
authors: Hasan
authors: H
authors: Kocaeli
authors: Bahattin
authors: B
authors: Hakyemez
authors: Ahmet
authors: A
authors: Bekar
authors: Selçuk
authors: S
authors: Yilmazlar
authors: Faruk
authors: F
authors: Abas
authors: Emel
authors: E
authors: Yilmaz
authors: Ender
authors: E
authors: Korfali
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001922:Brain Abscess / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D020314:Central Nervous System Fungal Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000209:etiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003244:Consciousness Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014277:Trigeminal Neuralgia / Q000209:etiology