Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 27, 2026

Closure of a Patent Foramen Ovale PFO: An Intervention Sequence
10:52

Closure of a Patent Foramen Ovale PFO: An Intervention Sequence

Published on: December 23, 2022

7.7K

Brain abscess associated with patent foramen ovale

Hirokazu Sadahiro1, Sadahiro Nomura, Akinori Inamura

  • 1Department of Neurosurgery and Clinical Neuroscience, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan, sadapiro@yamaguchi-u.ac.jp.

Acta Neurochirurgica
|July 1, 2014
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Cryptogenic brain abscess (CBA) may be linked to patent foramen ovale (PFO), a common condition causing right-to-left shunts. Further research using transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is recommended to confirm this association in CBA patients.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Cardiology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Brain abscesses are associated with congenital heart defects causing right-to-left shunts.
  • Cryptogenic brain abscess (CBA) can occur without apparent congenital anomalies or infections.
  • Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a prevalent condition characterized by a right-to-left shunt.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the potential association between cryptogenic brain abscess (CBA) and patent foramen ovale (PFO).

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective enrollment of seven patients diagnosed with CBA between 2003 and 2013.
  • Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) with contrast was performed to detect PFO in all patients.

Main Results:

  • Six out of seven CBA patients were found to have PFO.
  • One patient had a pulmonary arteriovenous shunt.
  • Four patients presented with odontopathy.

Conclusions:

  • All investigated CBA patients exhibited a right-to-left shunt.
  • Paradoxical embolization of bacterial masses through PFO is a potential cause of CBA.
  • Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is crucial for detecting PFO in CBA patients.

More Related Videos

Network Analysis of Foramen Ovale Electrode Recordings in Drug-resistant Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Patients09:32

Network Analysis of Foramen Ovale Electrode Recordings in Drug-resistant Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Patients

Published on: December 18, 2016

13.7K
Echocardiographic Evaluation of Atrial Communications before Transcatheter Closure07:41

Echocardiographic Evaluation of Atrial Communications before Transcatheter Closure

Published on: February 8, 2022

3.7K

Related Concept Videos

Brain Abscess l: Introduction01:26

Brain Abscess l: Introduction

A brain abscess is a focal, intracerebral infection characterized by a localized collection of pus within the brain parenchyma, resulting from microbial invasion and the body’s inflammatory response. It progresses through stages: early and late cerebritis, followed by early and late capsule formation, reflecting tissue destruction, immune response, and eventual encapsulation.Etiology and PathogenesisCausative organisms vary with source and host factors, often involving polymicrobial...
13
Cerebral Edema ll: Pathophysiology01:22

Cerebral Edema ll: Pathophysiology

Vasogenic edema is a major form of cerebral edema characterized by abnormal accumulation of fluid in the brain’s extracellular space due to disruption of the blood–brain barrier (BBB). The BBB is a specialized structure composed of endothelial cells connected by tight junctions, supported by astrocytic endfeet and a basement membrane. Under normal conditions, it tightly regulates the movement of ions, proteins, and solutes between the bloodstream and brain parenchyma. When this...
14
Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology01:26

Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology

Bacterial meningitis typically begins when pathogens such as Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae colonize the nasopharynx and invade the bloodstream. This process is facilitated by bacterial virulence factors, such as polysaccharide capsules, which resist phagocytosis and complement-mediated killing. Less commonly, bacteria reach the central nervous system via contiguous spread from infections like otitis media or sinusitis, through congenital or acquired dural defects, or...
14
Increased Intracranial Pressure ll: Pathophysiology01:29

Increased Intracranial Pressure ll: Pathophysiology

Increased intracranial pressure (ICP) refers to a potentially life-threatening rise in pressure inside the skull. This usually happens when there is a major change in the volume of brain tissue, blood, or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) — the three components inside the skull. According to the Monro-Kellie doctrine, if the volume of one component increases, the volumes of the other components must decrease to maintain normal pressure. If this does not happen, ICP rises.The process often begins...
17
Bacterial Meningitis I: Introduction01:22

Bacterial Meningitis I: Introduction

Bacterial meningitis is a severe, life-threatening inflammation of the meninges, particularly the pia mater and arachnoid mater, affecting the subarachnoid space, ventricles, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). If untreated, it can lead to significant neurological complications or death.Causative AgentsCommon pathogens vary with age and immune status. In adults, major organisms include Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae. Streptococcus agalactiae (group B...
11
Anatomy of the Brain: Ventricles01:18

Anatomy of the Brain: Ventricles

There are hollow fluid-filled cavities known as ventricles deep inside the human brain. There are two lateral ventricles, one in each cerebral hemisphere, and each has three different projections — the anterior, inferior, and posterior horns visible from the lateral side. A thin membrane called the septum pellucidum separates the two lateral ventricles. The slender third ventricle in the diencephalon is connected to each lateral ventricle via a channel called the interventricular foramen.
10.3K