Primary cerebral abscess due to Nocardia asteroides presenting as stroke.

Nocardial cerebral abscess, an uncommon condition, is usually secondary to a septic focus elsewhere in the body. We report a 44-year-old Chinese male patient who had primary nocardial cerebral abscesses due to Nocardia asteroides which presented with stroke-like episodes. He improved spontaneously between these episodes. The diagnosis was reached only after a contrast CT brain study and microbiological examination of specimens obtained during craniotomy. An early contrast CT study is important in avoiding any delay in diagnosis and treatment of this serious condition.