This study introduced the clinical and paraclinical features and outcome of treatment of 3 cases of brain abscess rupturing into the ventricle in the nervous surgical department of Vietduc Hospital during 1994-2001 and reviewed the medical literature during 1950-2001. The brain abscess rupturing into the ventricle was very severe complication with the mortality rate much higher than this of brain abscess without rupturing into the ventricle (morbidity rate: 60 -100%). In order to reduce the mortality rate it should early diagnose and treat basing on the clinical signs such as rapid worsened perception, sudden happened, new meningeal signs.
Brain Abscess ; Rupture ; Cerebral Ventricles

A brain abscess developing at the site of a preceding intracerebral hemorrhage is a rare finding. We report here on a rare case of a brain abscess that developed at the site of an intracerebral hemorrhage after a systemic infection.
Brain ; Brain Abscess ; Cerebral Hemorrhage

We had experienced a case of hematogenous brain abscess which occurred at the site of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage. The 41-year-old patient was admitted with sponetaneous intracerebral hemorrhage on left basal ganglia and sepsis. Brain abscess was incidentally detected by stereotactic aspiration of intracerebral hemorrhage, followed by the gram staining and culture of aspirated material.
Adult ; Basal Ganglia ; Brain Abscess* ; Brain* ; Cerebral Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Sepsis

Thirty-four patients with various intracranial lesions underwent the stereotatic surgery using the Pelorus system, which consists of integrated skull set, phantom and Arc adaptor, between September, 1987 and October, 1988.10 of 12 biopsies(83%) were diagnosed as 4 metastatic tumors, 3 glioblastoma multiforme, 1 cerebral infarction and 1 calcification. Fifteen patients with the spontaneous intracerebral hematoma and 2 with the abscess were treated successfully. Two patients with the malignant tumors underwent the stereotatic isotope implantation with I125. Only one case of transient hemiparesis among 34 procedures developed. From the results, the use of a simple interlocking plate system, rather than a bulky frame produce benifits evident during application with capabilities and accuracy of most other stereotactic system. It has offered the advantages of stereotaxis to a currently possible wide range of patients, which it can be used to diagnose and treat.
Abscess ; Cerebral Infarction ; Glioblastoma ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Paresis ; Skull

A 2-year-old boy with underlying congenital cyanotic heart disease presented with seizures and fever and was found to have bilateral parietal cerebral abscesses. Drainage of the pus from the abscesses was done in stages; on the day of admission, four days after admission and 3 weeks after admission. Although the pus from the first drainage did not grow any organisms, the pus from the second drainage on the fourth day of admission yielded a mixed growth of Eikenella corrodens and Streptococcus milleri. Following the second drainage of pus, the child was noted to have mild weakness (grade 3/5) and increased tone in the left upper limb. Three weeks after admission, due to recurring fever, further neurological signs and findings of an enlarging right cerebral abscess on a repeat CT scan, a third drainage was carried out. However no growth was obtained from this specimen. This patient was managed both surgically and with appropriate antibiotics. Over the next four months, serial CT scans revealed gradual resolution of the abscesses with disappearance of the surrounding oedema. The child showed gradual recovery of his left sided weakness with resolution of tone and reflexes to normal.
Discharge, Body Substance ; Eikenella corrodens ; week ; Cerebral Abscess ; growth aspects

Brain abscess following ischemic stroke is a very rare and dangerous condition that can have catastrophic results, and thus requires urgent and comprehensive evaluation. We report a case of a patient with brain abscess that developed at the lesion site of a previous cerebral infarction. The disruption of the blood-brain barrier in the infarcted lesion might facilitate abscess formation, making it a preferred target for infectious agents.
Abscess ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; Brain ; Brain Abscess ; Brain Infarction ; Cerebral Infarction ; Humans ; Stroke

Eight patients, with brain abscess or localized cerebritis proved histologically, were seen at The National Medical Center from 1971 to 1972, and 3 died, which is 37.5% mortality. Evidence of infection was often minimal in patients with brain abscess. The presence of increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate, highly suggestive of a cerebral abscess when an intracranial space-occupying lesion is suspected. The cerebral angiography and EEG were the best diagnostic tests. Early accurate diagnosis and early intracranial relieving with surgical procedure were most important factor in management of brain abscess. Primary excision of the abscess was considered to be the most satisfactory therapy.
Abscess ; Blood Sedimentation ; Brain Abscess* ; Brain* ; Cerebral Angiography ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Electroencephalography ; Humans ; Mortality

Despite the advent of new antimicrobial drugs and mordern imaging techniques, mortality and morbidity of bacterial meningitis remain high. The unfavorable clinical outcomes are due to intracranial complications such as cerebrovascular complications, hydrocephalus, cerebral edema, intracerebral hemorrhage, brain abscess, and convulsion. Prompt identification and treatment of each are essential to mininize unfavorable outcomes. We report two cases of cerebral infarctions complicated by Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis with a brief review of related literatures.
Brain Abscess ; Brain Edema ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Cerebral Infarction* ; Hydrocephalus ; Meningitis, Bacterial ; Meningitis, Pneumococcal* ; Mortality ; Seizures ; Streptococcus pneumoniae* ; Streptococcus* ; Thrombosis

Cerebral phaeohyphomycosis (CP) is a very rare but serious form of central nervous system fungal infection that is caused by dematiaceous fungi. It is commonly associated with poor prognosis irrespective of the immune status of the patient. In this study, the authors describe the first case of CP in Korea that occurred in a 75-year-old man without immunodeficiency and showed favorable outcome after surgical excision and antifungal therapy. In addition, the authors herein review the literature regarding characteristics of this rare clinical entity with previously reported cases.
Aged ; Brain Abscess* ; Central Nervous System ; Cerebral Phaeohyphomycosis* ; Fungi ; Humans ; Korea ; Prognosis

Brain abscess is a common bacterial infection of the central nervous system. Previously, the most common source of brain abscess is from the otorrhinologic infection, the hematogenous spread of infection from a distant site to the central ner vous system is increased(Alvord & Shaw, 1977; Zimmerman & Weingerten, 1991). Since intact brain parenchyma is usually resistant to inecton, focal areas of ischemia or necrosis are a prequisite to invasion by pathogenic microorganisms(Patric & Kaplan, 1988). There have been a few reports about the stroke lesions changed into brain abscess(Chen et al, 1995; Scully et al. 1991). We report serial brain images with the clinical observations in a patient with a transformation of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage into brain abscess.
Bacterial Infections ; Brain Abscess* ; Brain* ; Central Nervous System ; Cerebral Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Ischemia ; Necrosis ; Stroke