[Early diagnosis of bacterial brain abscesses: interest of diffusion-weighted MRI]

Rev Neurol (Paris). 2003 Apr;159(4):421-4.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Three cases of bacterial brain abscesses, in immunocompetent patients, are reported. In all these cases, the diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance (MRI) with apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) map has permitted an early diagnosis and a rapid treatment. This emergency MRI showed in the three cases a low signal on TI-weighted images, a high signal on T2-weighted and echo-planar images, and a decrease of ADC (0.36- 0.49 x 10(-3) mm2/s). So, this new MRI technique provides an available and rapid element in the brain abscess diagnosis which often remains a complex clinical and radiological diagnosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Actinomycosis / diagnosis
  • Actinomycosis / microbiology
  • Adult
  • Bacteroidaceae Infections / diagnosis
  • Bacteroidaceae Infections / microbiology
  • Brain Abscess / complications
  • Brain Abscess / diagnosis*
  • Brain Abscess / microbiology
  • Contrast Media
  • Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
  • Echo-Planar Imaging*
  • Emergencies
  • Epilepsy, Generalized / etiology
  • Fusobacterium Infections / diagnosis
  • Fusobacterium Infections / microbiology
  • Fusobacterium nucleatum / isolation & purification
  • Gadolinium
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / diagnosis
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Immunocompetence
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Migraine with Aura / complications
  • Peptostreptococcus / isolation & purification
  • Prevotella melaninogenica / isolation & purification
  • Smoking
  • Streptococcal Infections / diagnosis
  • Streptococcal Infections / microbiology
  • Streptococcus intermedius / isolation & purification

Substances

  • Contrast Media
  • Gadolinium