BACKGROUND: An abscess involving an already present brain tumor is a rare occurrence. METHOD: Two cases of an abscess superimposed on a brain tumor are presented and discussed. The medical literature is reviewed, and all reported cases are compared to our own. RESULTS: Only 15 cases of an abscess associated with a brain tumor were found in the literature, to which we add 2 of our own. About 60% were intrasellar or parasellar tumors. The origin of such an abscess at this location is by direct extension of the germs from a contiguous infected sinus. Our 2 additional cases were away from the sinuses. One is an ependymoma of the posterior fossa, and the other, a falcotentorial occipital meningioma, each with a superimposed abscess. CONCLUSIONS: We propose an alternate route for the formation of an abscess in conjunction with a brain tumor.
BACKGROUND: An abscess involving an already present brain tumor is a rare occurrence. METHOD: Two cases of an abscess superimposed on a brain tumor are presented and discussed. The medical literature is reviewed, and all reported cases are compared to our own. RESULTS: Only 15 cases of an abscess associated with a brain tumor were found in the literature, to which we add 2 of our own. About 60% were intrasellar or parasellar tumors. The origin of such an abscess at this location is by direct extension of the germs from a contiguous infected sinus. Our 2 additional cases were away from the sinuses. One is an ependymoma of the posterior fossa, and the other, a falcotentorial occipital meningioma, each with a superimposed abscess. CONCLUSIONS: We propose an alternate route for the formation of an abscess in conjunction with a brain tumor.
Authors: Ondrej Kalita; Miroslav Kala; Hana Svebisova; Jiri Ehrmann; Alice Hlobilkova; Radek Trojanec; Marian Hajduch; Michael Houdek Journal: J Neurooncol Date: 2008-06 Impact factor: 4.130