Immunocompetent patient with Nocardia abscessus brain abscess: Case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Nocardia cerebral abscess is uncommon. It accounts for 1%-2% of all cerebral abscesses. It typically occurs in immunocompromised patients but cases in immunocompetent hosts been reported. Diagnosis of Nocardia brain abscess can be difficult and misleading. In this report we report a case of Nocardia abscessus brain abscess that was misdiagnosed initially as brain tumor. The patient has been successfully managed medically along with surgical evacuation twice.