Table of Contents

Brain abscess

J.Sales-Llopis

Neurosurgery Department, General University Hospital Alicante, Spain.

Latest news


Definition

A brain abscess is a localized collection of pus or infected material within the brain tissue.

see also Intracranial abscess.

Classification

Brain abscess classification.

Epidemiology

Brain abscess epidemiology.

Etiology

see Brain abscess etiology.

Pathology

A brain abscess is a focal area of necrosis starting in an area of cerebritis surrounded by a membrane.

Brain abscesses are suppurative infections of the brain parenchyma surrounded by a vascularized capsule.

Cerebral abscesses result from pathogens growing within the brain parenchyma. Initial parenchymal infection is known as cerebritis, which may progress into a cerebral abscess.

Cerebral infection is commonly divided into four stages with distinct imaging and histopathologic features:

early cerebritis (a focal infection without a capsule or pus formation,can resolve or develop into frank abscess) late cerebritis

early abscess/encapsulation - may occur 10 days after infection

late abscess/encapsulation - may occur >14 days after infection.

Clinical features

Brain abscess clinical features.

Diagnosis

see Brain abscess diagnosis.

Differential diagnosis

see Brain abscess differential diagnosis.

Treatment

see Brain abscess treatment.

Management

see Brain abscess management.

Outcome

Brain abscess outcome.

Case series

Brain abscess case series.

Case reports

see Brain abscess case reports.

Brain abscess case reports from General University Hospital Alicante

Brain abscess case reports from General University Hospital Alicante

Books

see Brain abscess books.