Brain abscess
Infectious diseases
General description
Brain abscesses form when an inflamed area of the brain undergoes necrosis and is surrounded by a capsule of glial cells and fibroblasts. Edema around the abscess, as well as the abscess itself, can increase intracranial pressure.
Abscess
SOL
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Anywhere in the brain
Brain abscess is characterized by peripherally distributing circumscribed encapsulation with T2WI hypointensity and T1WI iso-hyperintensity, attributed to the paramagnetic effect of free radicals produced by activated macrophages.
High concentrations of cell decay products by macrophages show homogeneous diffusion restriction in the central area.
SWI shows circumferential hypointensity along abscess wall. SWI also shows a region of high intensity just inside the peripheral low signal, called dual rim sign.