[Otogenic brain abscesses: Neurosurgeon or Otosurgeon? (author's transl)]

A 20 years experience with 14 cases of otogenic abscesses which were treated by transmastoid drainage is summarized. The results as for patients mortality (21.4%) do not fall shorter than most successful series of neurosurgical approach. The authors believe that the reestimation of two approaches is necessary, because with the modern diagnostic tools such as computerized tomography (CT) and the later otosurgery methods, most of the old reservations have been removed, so that drainage through mastoidectomy is not a risk procedure as in the preantibiotic era but on the contrary today it stands on a more strengthened position.