Tactics of brain abscess treatment in the CT era -experience, problems, prospects

26 brain abscesses are analyzed which were treated over a period of five years at the neurosurgical department of the medical faculty of Hradec Kralove (CS), i.e., in the years 1978 -1983. The analysis is focused on the degree to which CT (computerized tomography) affected not only the results but also the tactics of such therapy, which shifted to the benefit of less radical methods, i.e., puncture and drainage. In certain cases, of course, the radical method of excision with capsule cannot be avoided. In exceptional cases CT may be used for documenting the healing of a brain abscess, i.e., of the inflammation focus following conservative treatment with antibiotics only. Of the 26 patients only one was lost. A new problem is presented by very small abscesses in functionally valuable zones of the brain. Here the choice of tactics is more urgent than ever because the physician is concerned not only with saving the life of his patient but with saving the quality of his life. (author). 5 figs., 3 tabs., 18 refs