Brain abscess historical perspective

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

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Overview

Prior to the 1800s, brain abscesses were almost uniformly fatal, and were rarely diagnosed prior to autopsy. Macewan was one of the 1st neurosurgeons who showed that these patients could actually be cured via surgical drainage. In the post WWII / antibiotic era, the mortality from brain abscesses really started to drop, and with the advent of the CT in 1974, earlier diagnosis and Rx was finally possible.

Over the past 50 years, the prognosis for patients with brain abscesses has improved significantly. These advances include further knowledge of cranial imaging techniques, antimicrobial treatment regimens, and the introduction of minimally invasive neurosurgical procedures.