The EEG findings in eighteen patients with brain abscess: Case reports and a review of the literature

Pine, Irving; Atoynatan, T.H.; Margolis, George

doi:10.1016/0013-4694(52)90005-9

Cited by 16 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Focal zeta waves have not been described with cerebral abscesses. Depression of cortical activity has been reported in some cases of cerebral abscess (Pine et al 1952;Vignaeandra et al 1975), but this depression was clearly related to the location of the abscess and not as extensive as in subdural empyema.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The EEG in the diagnosis of subdural empyema

Mauser¹,

Huffelen²,

Tulleken

1986

Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology

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Summary,The EEG findings in 9 pataents with a subdural empyema are reported. In all cases the EEG, recorded before the diagnosis had been established, contained focal zeta waves, extensive unilateral depression of cortical activity and, in all but one, a diffuse slowing of the background activity. This combination has not been reported before in the literature and it is concluded that in its presence the existence of a subdural empyema should be seriously considered. Comparison with CT scan findings in 3 cases indicated that sometimes EEG may be more sensitive than CT scanning in the diagnosis of subdural empyema. The value of EEG and CT scan in the diagnosis of patients presenting with an acute or subacute bacterial meningo-encephalitis is briefly discussed. Keywords: subdural empyema -EEG -zeta waives -CT scan -meningo-encephalitisAlthough as early as 1943 EEG findings in a patient with a subdural empyema were described by Kubik and Adams, to the best of our knowledge no specific study of the EEG in subdural empyema has been performed. In clinical series the EEG findings were described as non-specific and non-valuable for the diagnosis of subdural empyema (Hitchcock and Andreadis 1964;Kaufman et al. 1975;Luken and Whelan 1980;Williams 1982). To determine more precisely the value of the EEG in the diagnosis of subdural empyema the EEG records of 9 patients have been reviewed and correlated with the clinical data and, when available, with results of CT scans. Patients and MethodsThe data for this study are derived from a retrospective survey of 103 patients in whom the diagnosis of subdural empyema had been established in the years 1935-1984, collected from the files of the neurosurgical departments of 5 hospitals in The Netherlands (Mauser 1986 thesis). In 43 of these patients EEGs had been recorded prior to operation. In 9 of them the EEGs were still available for further study. The diagnosis of subdural empyema was confirmed at operation (8 cases) or with CT scan (1 case). In 3 of the 9 patients CT scans, performed before the moment of diagnosis, were also available.The 9 EEG records were interpreted by two of the authors (H.M. and A.H.) without knowledge of the original description. All EEGs had been recorded with montages using the 10-20 system. Special attention was given to technological data (e.g., filter settings and paper speed) and to the presence of Results Clinical dataThe clinical data of the 9 patients are summarized in Table I and are in close agreement with the clinical data of the larger series of 103 patients. The patients were diagnosed in the years [1965][1966][1967][1968][1969][1970][1971][1972][1973][1974][1975][1976][1977][1978][1979][1980][1981][1982][1983][1984]. There was a preponderance of males (7 out of 9) and all patients but one were in their second or third decade. Paranasal sinusitis was the most common cause (7 patients). The symptoms and signs in all patients fitted the clinical picture of an acute or subacute meningo-encephalitis. Seven patients were somnolent at the time o...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The EEG in the diagnosis of subdural empyema

Mauser¹,

Huffelen²,

Tulleken

1986

Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology

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“…2 A supratentorial abscess may also produce diffuse slowing but often shows focal slowing as the inflammatory process becomes localized ( Fig. 10 Chronic abscesses are likely to behave as a slowly growing tumor, producing focal slow wave abnormalities or asymmetry of the background activity. Focal or lateralized epileptiform discharges over the involved area of brain may also occur.…”

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confidence: 99%

Infectious Diseases

Riviello¹,

Kovnar²

2006

Clinical Neurophysiology of Infancy, Childhood, and Adolescence

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Paroxysmal beta activity in the pediatric electroencephalogram

Nealis

Duffy

1978

Annals of Neurology

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A total of 5,401 electroencephalograms performed in the Seizure Unit at Children's Hospital Medical Center over a 12-month period were analyzed for the presence of paroxysmal beta activity. Nine examples were found in patients under the age of 10 years, each of whom had a clinical seizure disorder. Seven patients showed abnormalities such as tumor, cerebral dysgenesis, or hydrocephalus on CAT scans or skull roentgenograms. Paroxysmal beta activity should be considered a manifestation of a seizure disorder. Furthermore, the finding of paroxysmal beta activity on an electroencephalogram in the young child should lead to further evaluation for a possible structural lesion.

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The EEG findings in eighteen patients with brain abscess: Case reports and a review of the literature

Cited by 16 publications

References 7 publications

The EEG in the diagnosis of subdural empyema

The EEG in the diagnosis of subdural empyema

Infectious Diseases

Paroxysmal beta activity in the pediatric electroencephalogram

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