Otogenic intracranial abscesses.

The commonest cause of the intracranial abscesses collected prospectively during the last two years was chronic middle ear infection (73%). The diagnosis was based on the clinical history, otological investigations, contrast enhanced computerized tomography and surgical findings. The clinical presentation was characterized by chronic otitis with an exacerbation of otorrhea, otalgia or pain in the temporal region or headache with high fever, vomiting and nausea. A review of our 14 patients with otogenic intracranial abscesses is reported to highlight that prompt diagnosis, appropriate therapy and careful monitoring can provide vastly improved results.