Ischemic Cerebral Infarction Clinically and Radiologically Presenting as Brain Abscess: Case Report

We report a case of an ischemic cerebral infarction, with the clinical course and radiological fi ndings suggestive of a brain abscess. Th e patient deteriorated neurologically, with laboratory and clinical signs of a systemic infection. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed multiple ring-enhanced round-shaped lesions in the watershed areas of the left cerebral hemisphere, characteristic for brain abscess. Aft er a course of broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment the signs of infections resolved. However, the source of the systemic infection was not identifi ed. Th e patient’s clinical course and later thorough radiological evaluation led us to a conclusion that the cerebral infarction was misinterpreted as the brain abscess. However, the decision to treat the possible brain abscess was medically reasonable.