Sinogenic brain abscess

The otolaryngological contribution to the combined treatment of intracranial suppuration secondary to sinusitis can vary from observation to external approach sinus exploration. Limited surgical intervention using the endoscopic approach, in conjunction with neurosurgical drainage, has recently been adopted at our department as the initial therapeutic strategy in the management of such cases. A retrospective analysis of the otolaryngological input into the treatment of 16 patients with sinogenic brain abscess at the Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland is presented. This study reveals that it is generally a disease of young adult males without an antecedent history of sinus disease and that Strep. Milleri is the most common causative organism. It is demonstrated that there is a lack of a consistent approach to the management in the acute phase and that there is an inadequate initial radiologic evaluation of the paranasal sinuses. There are two forms of presentation: 1) an ENT complaint with development of an abscess, and 2) an idiopathic abscess with subsequent identification of a paranasal sinus infective source. Extensive initial intervention seems to be associated with an increased incidence of revision surgery, thus suggesting that a limited endoscopic approach combined with neurosurgical drainage is the optimal course in the first-line management of sinogenic abscess.