Intracranial Abscesses

Intracranial abscesses (or brain abscesses) are life-threatening infections in the brain. Though this condition is very uncommon, a brain abscess can form due to an infection of a structure near the brain, such as the mouth, ear or sinus region. This infection results in swelling and irritation, and causes tissue to form a mass (or abscess) around infected cells, bacteria or fungi in the brain. Treatment for a brain abscess often starts with an MRI diagnosis or CT scanning. If an abscess is found, surgical excision and drainage will most likely be performed to remove the abscess and clear the area of abnormal material. Antibiotics are also prescribed for about four to eight weeks in order to prevent new infections from forming.