Brain Abscess and MR Spectroscopy

Background This work aims to determine how antibiotic therapy influences MR spectroscopic findings in patients undergoing treatment for pyogenic brain abscess and to comprehensively evaluate this naturally dreaded complication from a purely medical perspective by using an evidence- based approach and comparison with available literature which mostly comprises case reports. Methods This prospective, single center study included all patients who received treatment for brain abscesses at the Neurosurgery Department of University Hospital Ostrava between 2012- 2017. Pre-operative MR imaging was carried out on all patients including diffusion-weighted imaging and in vivo single-voxel proton spectroscopy with intermediate echo time. The following factors were evaluated: duration of antibiotic therapy, characteristics of MR imaging and spectra findings and culture results. Particular consideration was given to the effect of pyocefalus on morbidity and mortality rates and C-reactive protein levels, as well as the identification of risk factors and its possible therapeutic influence. Patients were followed up for 6 months. Results MR spectroscopy findings characteristic of brain abscesses, i.e. the resonances of at least one of the metabolites concerned (amino acids, acetate, alanine and succinate), were observed in..