Case report: chronic graphite granulomatous abscess simulating a brain tumor.

Brain abscess can develop at the site of retained intracranial foreign bodies many years after the injury. This report describes a 6 1/2-year-old child who presented with recurrent severe headaches and a focal seizure of the right upper extremity. Skull X-ray was normal. Computed tomography of the head showed a mass in the left temporoparietal region with a central area of high density and contrast enhancement, thought to be a neoplasm. The mass was seen on the radionuclide brain scan and was avascular on angiography. Craniotomy revealed a foreign body granuloma with a small abscess cavity and a retained piece of pencil graphite. No one in the family could recall if the child had had such an injury.