Neurology · UKMLA & AKT
Brain abscess
A free high-yield preview for the UKMLA Applied Knowledge Test. Below are the key points to recognise brain abscess — the full SA Note notes add investigations, management, complications and 10 practice questions.
Key high-yield points
- Classic triad of fever, headache, and focal neurological deficit - present together in only ~50% of cases
- Headache - progressive, often earliest and most consistent symptom
- Focal neurological deficits - hemiparesis, dysphasia, visual field defects depending on abscess location
- Seizures - focal or generalised tonic-clonic; may be the presenting event
- Raised ICP signs - papilloedema, Cushing's triad, meningism if meningeal irritation present
- Source clues: frontal lobe abscess - sinusitis; temporal/cerebellar - otitis media/mastoiditis; multiple abscesses - haematogenous spread (endocarditis, cyanotic CHD, dental caries)
Sudden catastrophic worsening of headache with new meningism = abscess rupture into the ventricular system - neurosurgical emergency with very high mortality.
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