Experience with 88 consecutive cases of brain abscess

The records of 88 patients with intraparenchymal brain abscess treated during 1946 to 1971 were reviewed. The incidence of brain abscess did not decline significantly during this period. The overall mortality rate was 36.4%, and the operative mortality rate 29.1%. The most frequent findings were alteration of consciousness, headache, and elevated peripheral white blood cell count; fever, hemiparesis, seizures, neck stiffness, nausea and vomiting, and papilledema were less common. There was a close correlation between the preoperative level of consciousness and the operative mortality rate. The rate of postoperative seizure disorder was similar regardless of the type of treatment. The operative mortality rate and the postoperative neurological sequelae were less for intracerebellar abscesses than for intracerebral abscesses.