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An emboligenic pulmonary abscess leading to ischemic stroke and secondary brain abscess

Philipp Albrecht1, Mark Stettner, Leila Husseini

  • 1Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany. phil.albrecht@gmail.com

BMC Neurology
|November 6, 2012
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Septic embolism from a pulmonary abscess can cause ischemic stroke and brain abscess. Early antibiotic treatment and imaging are crucial for managing this rare condition.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Radiology

Background:

  • Septic embolism is a known cause of ischemic stroke, often linked to infective endocarditis or right-to-left shunts.
  • Secondary cerebral abscess formation following septic embolism is uncommon.
  • Pulmonary abscesses rarely cause transcardiac septic embolism leading to cerebral infarction.

Observation:

  • A case report details a patient with a pulmonary abscess.
  • The abscess led to septic embolic cerebral infarction.
  • The cerebral infarction subsequently transformed into a cerebral abscess.

Findings:

  • This case represents the first reported instance of septic embolic ischemic stroke originating from a pulmonary abscess with secondary brain abscess formation.
  • Successful management involved antibiotic therapy and abscess drainage.
  • The patient showed significant symptom improvement and rehabilitation.

Implications:

  • Pulmonary abscesses should be considered a potential source of septic embolic ischemic stroke.
  • Prompt diagnosis and treatment, including early antibiotic therapy and regular cranial CT scans, are vital for detecting and managing secondary cerebral abscesses.
  • This highlights the importance of considering unusual sources for embolic events in stroke patients.

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