title: [Brain abscess - overview].
abstract: Brain abscess is a life threatening illness, demanding rapid diagnosis and treatment. Its development requires seeding of an organism into the brain parenchyma, often in an area of damaged brain tissue or in a region with poor microcirculation. The lesion evolves from a cerebritis stage to capsule formation. Brain abscesses can be caused by contiguous or haematogenous spread of an infection, or by head trauma/ neurosurgical procedure. The most common presentation is that of headache and vomiting due to raised intracranial pressure. Seizures have been reported in up to 50% of cases. Focal neurological deficits may be present, depending on the location of the lesion. Treatment of a brain abscess involves aspiration or excision, along with parenteral antibiotic therapy. The outcome has improved dramatically in the last decades due to improvement in diagnostic techniques, neurosurgery, and broad-spectrum antibiotics. The authors provide an overview of the pathogenesis, diagnosis and management of brain abscesses.
authors: Department of Neurology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. olafur.sveinsson@karolinska.se
authors: Olafur Arni
authors: OA
authors: Sveinsson
authors: Hilmir
authors: H
authors: Asgeirsson
authors: Ingvar H
authors: IH
authors: Olafsson
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001922:Brain Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents