J Korean Neurosurg Soc.  1981 Sep;10(2):739-746.

Experience with 42 Cases of Brain Abscess

• Lee SH
• Cho BK
• Choi KS

Abstract

Forty-two cases of brain abscess operated at the Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University Hospital during the past 10 years from Jan. 1971 to June 1981 were studied clinically. The incidence of this disease did not decline throughout the period and preponderance of males under the age of 20 was found. The abscesses of ear and nose origin constituted the largest group(35.7%) and cyanotic heart disease was followed(19.0%). In 33%, the primary site of infection could not be established. Headache was by far the most common symptom and frequent locations were temporal, frontal, parietal and cerebellum in order of frequency. On bacteriological study, G(-) rods, streptococcus, staphylococcus and anaerobic bacteroides were cultured and about 30% was sterile. Mixed infection was about 20%. CT scan made it possible to detect the brain abscess easily and accurately, especially in cerebellar abscess and multiple abscess. Factors influencing the surgical outcome were preoperative status and surgical procedure. Excision was superior to simple aspiration in respect of recurrence and surgical outcome.

MeSH Terms

Abscess
Bacteroides
Brain Abscess*
Brain*
Cerebellum
Coinfection
Ear
Headache
Heart Diseases
Humans
Incidence
Male
Neurosurgery
Nose
Rabeprazole
Recurrence
Seoul
Staphylococcus
Streptococcus
Tomography, X-Ray Computed