Brainstem abscess: preoperative MRI appearance and survival following stereotactic aspiration.

Brainstem abscesses are rare and until recently were uniformly fatal. The case of a 49 year old lady with an abscess extending through the midbrain, pons and cerebellar peduncle is presented. She survived following stereotactic aspilation; only the seventh such case. The report is illustrated with very rare preoperative MRI scans.