Lobar cerebral hemispheric abscess (Q63525)

A focal suppurative infection within the brain parenchyma typically surrounded by a vascularised capsule, in the frontal, parietal, temporal, or occipital lobe. Cerebritis describes a nonencapsulated brain abscess. The infective agent may be bacterial, fungal, or parasitic. The signs and symptoms are variable but typically present as an expanding mass lesion, over a variable period of time, with headache, fever, and a focal neurologic deficit. Seizures may occur. Diagnosis is made by neuroimaging. Microbiologic diagnosis is made by gram stain and culture of abscess material.