title: The role of f-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in the treatment of brain abscess.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) can be used to assess the therapeutic response of brain abscess.
  
  
  METHODS
  A study was conducted on 10 consecutive patients with brain abscess. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with diffuse-weighted imaging (DWI) was performed at 3 and 6 weeks after surgical treatment and intravenous antibiotics therapy and FDG-PET at 6 weeks after treatment. The extent of the abscess, signal changes on MRI, and FDG-PET standardized uptake values were analyzed and correlated with the response to therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Aspiration or craniotomy with excision of the abscess followed by intravenous antibiotics for 6-8 weeks resulted in good recovery with no recurrence. In 10 patients, two had low signal intensity on the DWI; one had no uptake on FDG-PET imaging after 6 weeks antibiotics and discontinued intravenous treatment, but the other patient had diffuse, increased uptake on FDG-PET imaging after 6 weeks antibiotics and underwent an additional 2 weeks of intravenous antibiotics. The remaining eight patients had high signals on the DWI. Four had no uptake on FDG-PET imaging and the treatment period varied from 6 to 8 weeks (mean, 6.75 weeks). Among the other four patients, FDG was accumulated in a diffuse or local area corresponding to a high signal area within the DWI and 2 weeks of intravenous antibiotics was added.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MRI plus FDG-PET improved the accuracy of assessing therapeutic responses to antibiotics treatment of brain abscess and aided in optimizing therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Seong-Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Sang-Woo
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Dong-Hun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Jeong-Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Joo-Kyung
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: Sung-Kyoo
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Hwang