Abstract:Abstract:ObjectiveTo analyze the causes for misdiagnosis of latent brain abscess.MethodsClinical data of 39 patients with misdiagnosed brain abscess hospitalized in our department from Jan. 2010 to Dec. 2016 were collected. The collected data, including clinical features, misdiagnosis reasons and treatment experience, were analyzed retrospectively.ResultsAll the patients received preoperative contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination. Atypical ringenhancing lesions and heterogeneous enhancing lesions were detected in 28 (71.8%) and 11 (28.2%) patients. They were misdiagnosed preoperatively as glioma (n=23), astrocytoma (n=5), metastatic tumors (n=6), infarcted hemorrhage (n=1), cerebral cavernous hemangioma (n=1), cholesteatoma (n=1), craniopharyngioma (n=1) or meningioma (n=1). Stereotactic surgery was performed in 4 patients and craniotomy for abscess removal in 35. 32 patients were followed up for 28.5±18.5 months postoperatively, and 26 (86.7%) got good prognosis without abscess recurrence.ConclusionsThe reasons for misdiagnosis of brain abscess included uncertain course of infection, nonspecific clinical manifestations, atypical bloodtest results and MRI findings. To achieve the best prognosis for suspected cases, total abscess resection without pyogenic fluid leakage should be performed.