Sadahiro H, Nomura S, Inamura A, Yamane A, Sugimoto K, Fujiyama Y, Suzuki M. Brain abscess associated with patent foramen ovale.
Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2014;
156:1971-6; discussion 1976. [PMID:
24975278 DOI:
10.1007/s00701-014-2170-1]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2014] [Accepted: 06/05/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Brain abscesses can develop with Tetralogy of Fallot and pulmonary anterior venous fistula with large right-to-left shunt. However, some patients exhibit cryptogenic brain abscess (CBA) in the absence of any such congenital disease or other infections. Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a very common disease that exhibits right-to-left shunt. This study reports the potential for concern between CBA and PFO.
METHODS
We enrolled patients with CBA in our hospital between January 2003 and January 2013. Patients underwent transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) with contrast medium to investigate the presence of PFO.
RESULTS
Seven patients were included. Four were females, and the mean age was 67.7 ± 9.2 years. In all patients, TEE failed to reveal any new findings, however, six patients had PFO, and another patient had pulmonary arteriovenous shunt. Four patients had odontopathy.
CONCLUSION
In this study, all CBA patients exhibited right-to-left shunt. CBA might be caused by paradoxical embolization of a bacterial mass via PFO. Thus, more patients with CBA need to undergo TEE to detect PFO.
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