Transcript Slide 1

Dr. Mansoureh Togha
Professor of Neurology
Tehran University of Medical sciences
CHANGES IN EPIDEMIOLOGY OF BRAIN ABSCESS
(IN THE LAST 2-3 DECADES)

Lower incidence of otogenic brain abscesses

With increase in # of immunocompormised
patients (transplant, AIDS,…), increased incidence
of brain abscess seen in that population, including
those caused by opportunistic pathogens (e.g.,
fungi, toxo, Nocardia)
PATHOGENESIS
•
Direct spread from contiguous foci (40-50%)
•
Hematogenous spread
•
Penetrating trauma/surgery
•
Cryptogenic
(25-35%)
(10%)
(15-20%)
DIRECT SPREAD

From:
 Otitis
media & mastoiditis
 Sinusitis
 Dental infection (<10%), typically with molar
infections

Meningitis rarely complicated by brain abscess (more common in
neonates with Citrobacter diversus meningitis, of whom 70% develop
brain abscess)

By:

Direct extension through infected bone

Spread through emissary/diploic veins, local lymphatics
HEMATOGENOUS SPREAD
(FROM REMOTE FOCI)

From:
 empyema,

lung abscess, bronchiectasis
 endocarditis,
 wound infections,
 pelvic infections, intra-abdominal source, etc…
 may be facilitated by cyanotic HD, AVM.
Abscess mostly at middle cerebral artery distribution,
and often multiple
PREDISPOSING CONDITION
Otitis/mastoiditis
Frontal/ethmoid sinusitis
Sphenoidal sinusitis
Dental infection
Remote source
LOCATION OF ABSCESS
Temporal lobe,
Cerebellum
Frontal lobe
Frontal lobe,
Sella turcica
Frontal > temporal lobe.
Middle cerebral artery
distribution (often multiple)
MICROBIOLOGY OF BRAIN ABSCESS
AGENT
FREQUENCY (%)
Streptococci (S. intermedius, including S. anginosus)
60–70
Bacteroides and Prevotella spp.
20–40
Enterobacteriaceae
23–33
Staphylococcus aureus
10–15
Fungi *
10–15
Streptococcus pneumoniae
<1
Haemophilus influenzae
<1
Protozoa, helminths † (vary geographically)
<1
*Fungi (Aspergillus Agents of mucor Candida Cryptococci Coccidiodoides Cladosporium
trichoides Pseudallescheria boydii)
†Protozoa, helminths (Entamoeba histolytica, Schistosomes Paragonimus Cysticerci)
PREDISPOSING CONDITION
USUAL MICROBIAL ISOLATES
Lung abscess, empyema, bronchiectasis
Bacterial endocarditis
Fusobacterium, Actinomyces, Bacteroides
Prevotella spp., streptococci, Nocardia
S. aureus, streptococci
Congenital heart disease
Streptococci, Haemophilus spp.
Neutropenia
Aerobic gram-negative bacilli, Aspergillus
Mucorales, Candidaspp.
Transplantation
Aspergillus spp., Candida spp., Mucorales,
Enterobacteriaceae, Nocardia spp.,
Toxoplasma gondii
HIV infection
Toxoplasma gondii, Nocardia spp.,
Mycobacterium spp., Listeria
monocytogenes, Cryptococcus neoformans
PPID, 2000
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF BRAIN ABSCESS
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Begins as localized cerebritis (1-2 wks)
Evolves into a collection of pus surrounded by a wellvascularized capsule (3-4 wks)
Lesion evolution (based on animal models):
 Days 1-3: “early cerebritis stage”
 Days 4-9: “late cerebritis stage”
 Days 10-14: “early capsule stage”
 > day14: “late capsule stage”
EFFECT OF BRAIN ABSCESS
 Direct
destruction
 Compression of parenchyma
 Elevation of intracranial pressure
 Interfering with blood &/or CSF flow
CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS
OF BRAIN ABSCESS
Headache
70%
Fever
45-50
Focal neurologic findings
Triad of above three
Altered mental status
Nausea/vomiting
Seizures
>60
<50
<70
25-50
25–35
Nuchal rigidity
25
Papilledema
25
PPID,2005
HEADACHE IN BRAIN ABSCESS
 Usually
non-specific, dull, and poorly
localized.
 If abrupt & extremely severe headache:
consider meningitis or SAH.
 Sudden worsening in H/A w meningismus:
consider rupture of brain abscess into
ventricle.
DIAGNOSTIC WORK-UP

MRI is the procedure of choice
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more sensitive especially for early cerebritis, satellite
lesions, necrosis, ring, edema, especially for posterior fossa
& brain stem abscesses
CT scan with contrast enhancement is 95% sensitive
Skull roentgenograms usually normal
Biopsy or aspiration needed for definitive diagnosis
Laboratory findings often not helpful
Lumbar puncture contraindicated
LABORATORY TESTS
BRAIN ABSCESS
•Aspirate: Gram/AFB/fungal stains & cultures, cytopathology (+/-PCR for TB)
•WBC
Normal in 40%, only moderate leukocytosis in ~ 50%,
& only 10% have WBC >20,000
•CRP
•ESR
•BC
almost always elevated
Usually moderately elevated
Often negative, BUT Should still be done
AVOID LP!!
Risk of herniation 15-30%
May even have normal CSF findings, but:
Usually elevated CSF protein & cell count (lymphs)
Unremarkable CSF glucose
CSF culture rarely positive
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
•
Malignancy
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Abscess has hypodense center, with surrounding smooth, thin-walled
capsule, & areas of peripheral enhancement.
Tumor has diffuse enhancement & irregular borders.
PET scan may differentiate.
CRP??
CVA
Hemorrhage
Aneurysm
Subdural empyema
Epidural abscess
TREATMENT


Medical & surgical
Obtain Neurosurgical Consult ASAP

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Aspiration or excision
Antibiotics
Initially selected based on:
-Likely pathogen: considering primary source,
underlying condition, &
geography
-Antibiotic characteristics: MICs for usual pathogens, CNS
penetration, activity in abscess cavity
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
Duration of abx: usually 6-8 wks
After surgical excision, a shorter course may
suffice
ANTIBIOTICS TREATMENT ONLY (WITHOUT SURGERY)

Only in pts with prohibitive surgical risk:
 poor surgical candidate,
 multiple abscesses
 a dominant location
 Abscess size <2.5 cm
 concomitant meningitis, ependymitis
 early abscess (cerebritis?)
 In pt already showing improvement on abx
MONITOR RESPONSE CLOSELY WITH
SERIAL IMAGING
USUAL APPEARANCE OF CEREBRAL
ABSCESS ON MRI
Post-Gd T1WI: Abscess in the
right thalamus shows low
signal intensity within its
cavity and an enhancing rim.
Note subtle hypointense outer
rim, corresponding to edema.
USUAL APPEARANCE OF CEREBRAL
ABSCESS ON MRI
T2WI: Same patient with
right thalamic abscess.
There is high signal in the
abscess cavity and in the
surrounding edema. Note
low signal intensity in the rim
surrounding the cavity which
is thought to be secondary to
susceptibility artifact from
presence of local free
radicals, and indicates a
mature abscess.
USUAL APPEARANCE OF CEREBRAL
ABSCESS ON MRI
DWI: Same patient in
previous two slides.
There is marked high
signal intensity in the
abscess corresponding to
restricted diffusion of
water molecules in the
cavity. Note mild
hyperintensity
surrounding the cavity
due to “T2 shine
through” from edema.
USUAL APPEARANCE OF CEREBRAL
ABSCESS ON MRI
Left and right frontal abscesses: Another example of the expected
appearance of abscesses on MRI. The abscess cavities show low and high
signal on T1- and T2WI, respectively. There is surrounding vasogenic edema
and mature capsules. There is corresponding high signal on trace DWI. Dark
signal on ADC map confirms restricted diffusion.
35-year-old male presenting with seizure, left sided weakness, and urinary
incontinence. Drainage was performed and cultures grew Streptococcus
anginosus.
ATYPICAL APPEARANCE OF
BACTERIAL ABSCESS ON DWI
Mixed signal: Abscess located in the left temporooccipital region. There
is a hypointense cavity with an enhancing rim on the post-Gd T1WI.
FLAIR image (middle) shows high signal in the rim, surrounding tissues
and in the anterior part of the cavity corresponding to areas of edema
and pus. There are also isointense areas in the cavity. (Continued)
ATYPICAL APPEARANCE OF
BACTERIAL ABSCESS ON DWI
Mixed signal: (Continued) DWI (right) shows high signal in
the cavity corresponding to the region of hyperintensity on
the FLAIR image and decreased signal corresponding to
isointense region which indicates either free diffusion or
susceptibility, such as that from focal hemorrhage.
TUBERCULOMA
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Early lesions are usually isointense on T1and T2WI, and have variable Gd
enhancement.
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Mature lesions have ring enhancement on
post-Gd T1WI and low signal centrally on
T2WI.
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Normal DWI signal is common even in
mature tuberculomas.
TUBERCULOMA
Normal DWI signal: Images show a tuberculoma in the left frontotemporal
region. There is bright rim enhancement, characteristic hypointensity in its
central portion on T2WI and vasogenic edema. The central area is
isointenste to gray matter DWI and there is mild “T2 shine through” from
edema. ADC map (far right) shows minimally restricted diffusion.
3-year-old female with miliary TB. At biopsy, fluid could noto be aspirated from the cavity.
TUBERCULOMA
Two examples of
tuberculomas with low
signal on DWI: DWI of right
occipital (top) and right
cerebellar (bottom) show
that neither of these
lesions have restricted
diffusion.
NOCARDIA
Renal transplant patient:
Post-Gd T1WI (top) shows
multiple punctate lesions.
Note that individual lesions
are not discriminated on
the trace DWI and that the
abnormalities are seen as
confluent areas of high
signal due to “T2 shine
through.”
NOCARDIA
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Genus : aerobic actinomycetes
G+ branching filamentous bacteria
Subgroup: aerobic nocardiform actinomycetes
-Mycobacterium
-Corynebacterium
-Nocardia
-Rhodococcus
-Gordona
-Tsukamurella
NOCARDIA :ECOLOGY& EPIDEMIOLOGY
•
•
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Transmission
Inhalation
Skin
•
The risk of pulmonary or
disseminated disease
*deficient cell-mediated *
-Alcoholism
-Diabetes
-Lymphoma
-Transplantation
-Glucocorticoid therapy
-AIDS CD4+ < 250
CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS
: 4 MAIN FORM
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Lymphocutaneous syndrome
Pulmonary :Pneumonia
CNS : Brain abscess
Disseminated disease
CNS
Eyes (particularly the retinaKeratitis),
Skin& subcutaneous
Kidneys,
Joints, bone
Heart
PULMONARY DISEASE

Pneumonia
Subacute(more acute in immunosuppressed)
Cough**
Small amounts of thick, purulent sputum
Fever, anorexia, weight loss, malaise
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Endobronchial inflammatory mass
Lung abscess
Cavitary disease
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Inadequate therapy Progressive fibrotic diseaseฆ
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Cerebral imaging,should be performed in all cases of
pulmonary and disseminated nocardiosis
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Nocardial pneumonia. Discrete nodular in midlung on both sides
CT scan (A),CXR (B) from : multiple abscesses : Nocardia farcinica
CNS : BRAIN ABSCESS
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Insidious presentations : mistaken for neoplasia !!!
Granulomatous , abscesses
Cerebral cortex, basal ganglia and midbrain***
Less commonly: spinal cord or meninges.
Brain tissue diagnosis in pulmonary nocardiosis
: not necessary
However,
cerebral biopsy:considered early in immunocompromised
brain abscess ; Nocardia farcinica
Nocardial abscess :rt. occipital lobe
LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS
•
•
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Gram-positive, beaded, branching filaments
usually weak acid fast+ve .
Standard blood culture :48 hrs to several wks, but
typical = 3 to 5 days
Colonization of sputum
:underlying pulmonary dz +
not receiving steroid therapy no specific therapy
Susceptibility testing
-Deep-seated /disseminated dz. fail initial therapy
-Relapse after therapy
-Alternatives to sulfonamides are being considered
MANAGEMENT
:MEDICATION
Sulfonamides : the mainstay of therapy
treatment of choice :N. brasiliensis
N. asteroides complex
N. transvalensis.
 severely ill patients, CNS /disseminated/
immunosuppressed patients =/> 2 drugs
 Amikacin and Carbapenem or
3rd generation cephalosporin.

MANAGEMENT
:MEDICATION
•
TMP-SMX :currently preferred
:drugs in serum:CSF = 1:20
:high MICs good therapeutic responses
-General:5-10 mg/kgTMP & 25-50 mg/kgSMX divide2- 4times
-Cerebral abscesses,severe,disseminated,AIDS
:15 mg/kg TMP and 75 mg/kg SMX)
-Cutaneous infection: 5 mg/kg/day (TMP) + DB
Hypersensitivity reactions :Desensitization
MANAGEMENT
MEDICATION:ALTERNATIVE THERAPEUTIC DRUGS
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Failed sulfonamide Rx: N. otitidiscaviarum
Intolerant : hypersensitivity,GI toxicity, myelotoxicity)
Parenteral : Imipenem & amikacin
: Meropenem
: 3rd-gen cephalosporins Ceftriaxone, cefotaxime

Oral:Amoxicillin clavulanate
:Minocycline(100–200 mg twice daily)
:Linezolid :new oxazolidinone ;effective orally
(bioavailability~100%), good CSF penetration
MANAGEMENT
SURGICAL DRAINAGE: DEPEND ON SITE
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Extraneural aspirate,drainage, excision
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Brain abscesses
1) Accessible and relatively large AND
2.1) Lesions progress within 2 wks or
2.2) No reduction in abscess size within a month.
DURATION OF THERAPY
Clinical improvement: most 7 -10 days
Parenteral 3 to 6 wks oral regimen
Primary cutaneous infection :1-3 mo.
Nonimmunosuppressed
-Pulmonary /systemic nocardiosis: at least 6 mo
-CNS involvement : for 12 months
 Immunocompromised
HIV-negative
immunosuppressed
:12 mo or longer if there
are intercurrent increases
in immunosuppression
AIDS
: at least 12 mo. +
low-dose maintenance
(long life)
OUTCOME OF THERAPY
•

Cure rates
-skin or soft tissue : almost 100%
-pleuropulmonary disease : 90%
-disseminated infection : 63%
-brain abscess : 50%
Mortality
-brain abscesses :31%
-multiple abscesses :41%
-immunocompromised patients :55%
MONITORING TREATMENT WITH DWI

The following are three examples of
cerebral abscesses which were followed
with serial MRI examinations, including
DWI after surgical drainage.

The appearance of the abscess cavity on
DWI can indicate success or failure of
treatment.
Example 1: 2-year-old female with seizures and rightsided paraparesis. Initial MRI shows a left posterior
frontal abscess. The edema is best seen on T2WI (far
left) and the mild peripheral enhancement on post-Gd
T1WI (2nd from left). There is restricted diffusion in
the cavity (DWI image, 3rd from left) confirmed on ADC
map (far right). (Continued)
Example 1: (Continued) Images obtained approximately 2
months after surgery. In the region of the abscess there is a
non-enhancing linear area without abnormal signal on DWI,
consistent with focal gliosis (no recurrence). Clinically, the
patient was cured.
Example 2: Serial MRI studies
(post-Gd T1WI, DWI, ADC)
obtained at one-week intervals
in a 40-year-old man presenting
with fever, headache and vision
disturbance. The left occipital
abscess was drained. The lesion
has similar characteristics to that
shown in the previous case with
a notable change on DWI
following drainage and
resolution of the lesion over
time.
CONCLUSIONS

Pyogenic abscesses have a typical appearance
on DWI

TB and toxoplasmosis usually little restriction of
water motion when compared to pyogenic
abscesses

Fungal abscess have a variable DWI appearance

DWI can be use to monitor cerebral abscesses
during the course of therapy