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Infectious lesions of the brain stem

W A Hall1

  • 1Department of Neurosurgery, University of Minnesota Hospital and Clinic, Minneapolis.

Neurosurgery Clinics of North America
|July 1, 1993
PubMed

Insights

Brain stem infections, including abscess and encephalitis, are rare but treatable. Advances in imaging and microsurgery have significantly improved outcomes for these serious central nervous system conditions.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Neurosurgery

Background:

  • Infectious lesions of the brain stem, such as abscess and encephalitis, are uncommon neurological conditions.
  • Common causes include Streptococcus sp., Staphylococcus sp., M. tuberculosis, Listeria monocytogenes, and herpes simplex virus.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the diagnosis and treatment of infectious brain stem lesions.
  • To highlight the impact of modern imaging and surgical techniques on patient outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Review of literature on brain stem infections.
  • Discussion of diagnostic modalities including CT and MR imaging.
  • Evaluation of surgical and antimicrobial treatment strategies.

Main Results:

  • CT and MR imaging have greatly improved the diagnosis of brain stem lesions.
  • Microsurgery and stereotaxis are effective for brain stem abscess treatment.
  • Improved antimicrobial therapies have reduced morbidity and mortality.

Conclusions:

  • Brain stem infections, once considered uniformly fatal, are now successfully treated.
  • Prompt diagnosis and appropriate management, including CSF diversion for hydrocephalus, are crucial.
  • Advances in neuroimaging and neurosurgical techniques have revolutionized patient care and prognosis.

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