Cerebral abscess

Abstract

From 1935-1976 a total of 200 patients with cerebral abscesses were referred to the University Clinic of Neurosurgery, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen (Denmark). 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%, except for the period 1958-1976 (17%).