The clinical and radiological features of brain abscesses can sometimes imitate those of necrotic tumors or metastasis. Whereas the approach and urgency of surgical intervention differs enormously, further diagnostic features are necessary in order to establish the correct preoperative diagnosis. We report on two patients who presented with septated ring-enhancing lesions in the right parieto-temporat hemisphere with perifocal edema and discuss the role of 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in the diagnosis of contrast enhancing cystic lesions.