Case history
Case history
A 46-year-old man presents to the emergency department after being discovered obtunded at home. A history from family reveals complaints of progressive sinus-type headaches during the 2 weeks prior. While in the emergency department, the patient becomes unresponsive and requires intubation. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan with contrast reveals a right parietal ring-enhancing lesion.
Other presentations
Cerebral abscess can present with signs and symptoms of infection, or as an intracranial mass lesion. Neurological signs may be either localising (e.g., hemiparesis) or general from increased intracranial pressure (e.g., vomiting). Patients may rarely have a herniation syndrome on initial presentation, with coma, paralysis, and unilateral dilated pupil. Postoperative patients present with infectious signs and symptoms (e.g., fever) and often have a history of wound breakdown or drainage. Neonates may present with seizures and signs of increased intracranial pressure (e.g., bulging fontanelles or increased head circumference). Neonates may also present with non-specific symptoms such as poor feeding, irritability, and respiratory symptoms.[1]
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