title: Stereotactic biopsy and drainage of a brainstem abscess caused by Listeria monocytogenes.
abstract: Listerial rhombencephalitis and brain abscesses are rare, but potentially life-threatening conditions. Early initiation of antibiotic therapy is crucial, but establishing the diagnosis of listerial brainstem abscess can be difficult. Stereotactic biopsy and drainage of space-occupying abscesses of the brainstem should be considered especially in cases of rapid clinical deterioration. We successfully performed stereotactic biopsy and drainage of a listerial brainstem abscess in a 42-year-old male patient who deteriorated despite antibiotic treatment, demonstrating that this approach is suitable in such patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany. christopher.beynon@med.uni-heidelberg.de
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Beynon
authors.forename: Jan-Oliver
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Neumann
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bösel
authors.forename: Andreas W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Unterberg
authors.forename: Karl L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Kiening
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods*; D001922:Brain Abscess / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D061705:Image-Guided Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008584:Meningitis, Listeria / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques; D013396:Suction / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents