Neurology · UKMLA & AKT
Brain abscess
A free high-yield preview for the UKMLA Applied Knowledge Test, covering how to recognise this condition. The full SA Note notes add investigations, management and complications, with practice questions on this topic.
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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