Brain abscess.

The results of CT brain scan in diagnosing and monitoring the course of brain abscesses and the recognition of the major role that anaerobic bacteria play in causing this disease have led to a reduction in disease mortality and have allowed a greater percentage of infected patients to recover without major neurosurgical procedures. Monitoring intracranial pressure, the availability of new antibiotics, and recognition and treatment of some of the more unusual syndromes associated with defective or suppressed immune systems have helped lead to a reduction in disease mortality from about 50 per cent to 10 per cent with excellent functional recovery in the majority of the patients.