Intracranial subdural empyema and its management. A review of the literature with comment.

Intracranial subdural empyema is a rare form of suppuration in Europe and North America, and is a potentially dangerous but treatable disease. The clinician must be aware that this complication requires prompt diagnosis and urgent neurosurgical intervention. The etiology, pathology, bacteriology, clinical features, diagnostic procedures and the different surgical approaches to this disease are reviewed.

Interhemispheric subdural empyema--case report.

We report a case of interhemispheric subdural empyema following a meningoencephalitis. Ten days after the beginning of his illness a CT scan showed a left interhemispheric subdural empyema with a low density collection, a faintly enhancing rim, multiple very small cortical abscesses and brain edema. The empyema was successfully treated by the direct introduction of a catheter into the left interhemispheric subdural space via a single posterior frontal parasagittal burr hole, irrigation with saline, aspiration of the empyema, and removal of the catheter at the end of operation.

Brain abscesses from neglected open head injuries: experience with 17 cases over 20 years.

We are reviewing our experience with 17 civilian cases with post-traumatic brain abscesses treated in the era of CT scanning over a period of 20 years. The principal cause for this intracranial complication was the neglected compound depressed fracture. One was a newborn infant with left parietal abscess caused by a vacuum extraction.

Autoimmune thyroid disorders in juvenile chronic arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus.

The appearance of autoimmune thyroiditis in the course of other autoimmune diseases, which do not affect specific organs (systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis and others), is more frequent than is usually believed. Nevertheless, it is scarcely studied, especially in children. The purpose of this study was to look for autoimmune lesions of the thyroid gland in children suffering from juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Severe craniocerebral injury by an axe with good outcome: case report.

We report a young patient who was operated on for a penetrating slow impact craniocerebral injury in the left frontal region caused by an axe. The patient was admitted comatose, with right hemiplegia. The blade of the axe was embedded deeply into his head.