title: Brain abscesses in a patient with a patent foramen ovale: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Brain abscesses arising from right-to-left cardiac shunting are very rare in adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe the case of a 47-year-old non-hispanic white male with periodontal disease who developed several brain abscesses caused by Streptococcus intermedius. A comprehensive workup revealed a patent foramen ovale with oral flora as the only plausible explanation for the brain abscesses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on this case and the relevant literature, we suggest an association between a silent patent foramen ovale, paradoxical microbial dissemination to the brain, and the development of brain abscesses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Disease, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Milwaukee Clinical Campus, North 12th Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53233, USA.
authors.forename: Fuad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jan
authors.forename: Abdul Moiz
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Hafiz
authors.forename: Saurabh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meidl
authors.forename: Suhail
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Allaqaband