Diagnosing a brain abscess

Condition analysis:
If a brain abscess is suspected, an initial assessment will be made based on your symptoms, medical history and whether you've had a recent infection or a weakened immune system.

Blood tests can also be carried out to check for an infection.

If you're referred to hospital for further tests, you may have either:
-- a computerised tomography (CT) scan – a series of X-rays are used to produce a detailed image of the inside of your body
-- a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan – which uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce a detailed image of the inside of your body.

If an abscess is found, a procedure known as CT-guided aspiration may be used to remove a sample of pus for testing. This involves using a CT scan to guide a needle to the site of the abscess.

Instructions:
Numerous factors should be considered when trying to decide the appropriate approach to therapy. Abscesses smaller than 2.5 cm generally respond to antimicrobial therapy, while abscesses larger than 2.5 cm have failed to respond to such treatment.

Knowledge of the etiologic agent or agents by recovery from blood, CSF, abscess, or other normally sterile sites is essential because it allows for the most appropriate selection of antimicrobial agents.