Brain abscess in seven cats due to a bite wound: MRI findings, surgical management and outcome

• Published in: Journal of feline medicine and surgery Vol. 13; no. 9; pp. 672 - 680
• Main Authors: Costanzo, Chiara, Garosi, Laurent S., Glass, Eric N., Rusbridge, Clare, Stalin, Catherine E., Volk, Holger A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2011; SAGE Publications; ISFM and AAFP. Published by Elsevier Ltd
• Subjects: abscess; adults; Animals; antimicrobial agents; Bites and Stings - complications; Bites and Stings - veterinary; Brain Abscess - diagnosis; Brain Abscess - etiology; Brain Abscess - therapy; Brain Abscess - veterinary; brain stem; Cat Diseases - diagnosis; Cat Diseases - pathology; Cat Diseases - therapy; cats; Cats - injuries; clinical examination; Female; head; Head Injuries, Penetrating - complications; Head Injuries, Penetrating - veterinary; intravenous injection; magnetic resonance imaging; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - veterinary; Male; Neurologic Examination - veterinary; Prosencephalon; skull; surgery; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 1098-612X; 1532-2750
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jfms.2011.07.020

Seven adult domestic shorthair cats were presented with a 1- to 6-day history of progressive neurological signs. A focal skin puncture and subcutaneous swelling over the dorsal part of the head were detected on physical examination. Neurological examination indicated lesion(s) in the right forebrain in four cats, multifocal forebrain in one cat, left forebrain in one cat, and multifocal forebrain and brainstem in the remaining cat. In all cats, magnetic resonance imaging revealed a space-occupying forebrain lesion causing a severe mass effect on adjacent brain parenchyma. All cats were managed with a combination of medical and surgical treatment. At surgery a small penetrating calvarial fracture was detected in all cats, and a tooth fragment was found within the content of the abscess in two cats. The combination of surgical intervention, intensive care and intravenous antimicrobials led to a return to normal neurological function in five cats. As this series of cases indicates, successful resolution of a brain abscess due to a bite injury depends on early recognition and combined used of antimicrobials and surgical intervention. A particular aim of surgery is to remove any skull and foreign body (tooth) fragments that may represent a continuing focus of infection.