METHODS: The data of 43 patients with intracranial abscesses who underwent surgery between January 1994 and June 2004 at the Neurosurgery Department, Şişli Etfal Training and Research Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were treated by aspiration through a single Burr hole or total resection with open craniotomy or image–guided stereotactic aspiration. Computed tomography was performed about 24 hours after surgery to evaluate the size of the abscess and almost weekly during follow up. The clinical results were analyzed with the Glasgow Outcome Scale.

RESULTS: 31 patients were male and 12 patients female. The ages ranged 1 to 58 years (mean 26 years). The common predisposing factors were ear infection (44%), pulmonary infection (12%) and penetrating head trauma (9%). Aspiration through a single burr hole was performed in 29 cases. 10 cases underwent total resection with open craniotomy, and four cases were treated with image–guided stereotactic aspiration. Thirty-eight patients did well postoperatively while five cases died.

CONCLUSION : Our results of the treatment of brain abscess by repeated aspiration show that medical treatment alone can give satisfactory results and there is no need to use serial computed tomography when the diameter of the abscess becomes less than 2 to 3 cm (mean 2,5 cm). Anahtar Kelimeler : Brain abscess, Burr-hole aspiration, craniotomy, stereotactic aspiration