[Otogenic brain abscess].

The authors report the 20-year experience in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with otogenic brain abscess. In the studies were included 36 patients of whom 24 had a cerebral abscess and 12 a cerebell abscess. The otogenic brain abscess was usually associated with meningitis (45%). Headache and temperature were common with otogenic intracranial complications. The active chronic otitis with cholesteatoma was usually found in the middle ear. The inflammatory process was usually spread in the endocranial space through destroyed walls of the midle ear. Computerized tomography (CT) is the most safe method in the diagnosis of brain abscess, by which it is possible to localyze the abscess, to plan the operation and follow-up the success of treatment. Neurological and ophthalmological examinations cannot always detect brain abscess. The authors suggest that in cases of brain abscess, it is important to neurosurgically remove the abscess. After improvement of the general condition of the patient, otosurgical procedure must be done. In this group of patients mortality is relatively high, both in abscessus cerebri (20%) and abscessus cerebelli (25%).