Researchers at Louisiana State University, Shreveport, LA, report the case of a 9-year-old immunocompetent girl diagnosed with a left frontal brain abscess accompanied by fever, headache, and weight loss for a 3-month period. A left-sided peritonsillar abscess was the presumptive source of the brain abscess. A review of the literature uncovered only one similar case report. [1]
COMMENT. Predisposing risk factors for pediatric brain abscess include congenital cyanotic heart disease, immunocompromised state, or septic foci in teeth, paranasal sinuses, middle ear, mastoid and tonsils. Cranial MRI in diagnosis of suspected brain abscess should include a possible source of infection in sections of the neck.