Chronic calcified subdural empyema occurring 46 years after surgery.

The authors present a case of a 47-year-old female in whom there was diagnosed a chronic calcified subdural empyema 46 years after the removal of an acute subdural empyema resulting from complications after otitis media. The patient had suffered from grand mal convulsions and partial epileptic seizures occurring 3-4 times a month. A large frontotemporoparietal craniotomy was carried out and the subdural empyema filled with numerous brownish-black, uncharacteristic tissue fragments together with the partially calcified and ossified capsule was removed. The empyema mass was found to be sterile for bacteria. After the operation, mental disability symptoms began to withdraw and the number of epileptic seizures decreased.