Brain abscess

Abstract

Brain abscess is a focal, intracerebral infection that begins as a localized area of cerebritis and develops into a collection of pus surrounded by a well-vascularized capsule [1]. Prior to the late 1800s, brain abscess was a near fatal condition with most cases diagnosed postmortem. The initial success in the treatment of brain abscess was surgical drainage or removal. This success was further enhanced during and after World War II when antibiotic therapy with penicillin and chloramphenicol became available. Over the past 25 years, there has been continued reduction in morbidity and mortality associated with brain abscesses due to advances in diagnostics and treatment strategies [1-4]. Although brain abscess is considered rare, there have been an estimated 1, 500-2, 500 cases diagnosed annually in the United States, with an incidence that ranges from0.9 to 2.7 per 100, 000 person-years in studied populations [5-7]. For diagnostics, neuroimaging studies, stereotactic brain biopsies, and aspiration techniques have significantly contributed to the identification of lesion(s) size, number, location, potential approaches, and evaluation over time. © 2007 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.