Health encyclopaedia

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Diagnosis of Brain abscess

Headaches are the main symptom of brain abscesses, but they can be caused by many other factors. Your GP or Accident & Emergency staff will make the initial diagnosis based on the combination of symptoms, particularly factors such as vision difficulties, coordination problems and in some cases, coma.

Computerised tomography (CT scan) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI scan) can be used to locate areas of abnormal cells in the brain. Abscesses can be differentiated from brain tumours because abscesses tend to have smoother edges.

Chest and skull X-rays may be used to find out if you  have infections in other parts of your body such as the lungs, sinuses, and mastoid (bone near the ears).

Samples of blood, and of the fluid drained from the abscess, can be analysed in a laboratory to find out what type of bacteria or fungi is causing the infection.

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