Cerebral abscess. Aetiology and pathogenesis, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. A review of 200 cases from 1935-1976.

From 1935-1976 a total of 200 patients with cerebral abscesses were referred to the University Clinic of Neurosurgery, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen. The primary source of infection could be established in 169 cases (85%). Bacteria could be cultured in 58% of the cases. From 1935-1957 nearly all patients were subjected to ventriculography (107/129). Cerebral angiography was the dominating diagnostic method from 1958-1974. Since then, 30 patients with a suspected intracranial abscess have been examined by computed tomography. The overall mortality has been 40%, but for the period 1958-1976 17%.