Tuberculous brain abscess

Abstract

A case of tuberculous brain abscess is presented. Such abscesses are rare and because of the histological picture of the capsule wall are likely to be mistaken for pyogenic abscesses, especially in the absence of a history of tuberculosis. The pus shows a large number of acid fast bacilli on special staining. Such abscesses represent one end of the spectrum of tuberculous infection of the brain, namely solid tuberculomas, cystic tuberculomas and tuberculous brain abscess. Surgical excision with chemotherapy and anticonvulsants lead to good results.