Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The STEP trials

A round-up of the STEP phase 3 clinical trials evaluating semaglutide for weight loss in people with overweight or obesity.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
Journal of Medical Case Reports
Published in: Journal of Medical Case Reports 1/2007

Open Access 01-12-2007 | Case report

Adult brain abscess associated with patent foramen ovale: a case report

Authors: Georgios T Stathopoulos, Christina G Mandila, Georgios V Koukoulitsios, Nikodimos G Katsarelis, Michel Pedonomos, Andreas Karabinis

Published in: Journal of Medical Case Reports | Issue 1/2007

Login to get access

Abstract

Brain abscess results from local or metastatic septic spread to the brain. The primary infectious site is often undetected, more commonly so when it is distant. Unlike pediatric congenital heart disease, minor intracardiac right-to-left shunting due to patent foramen ovale has not been appreciated as a cause of brain abscess in adults. Here we present a case of brain abscess associated with a patent foramen ovale in a 53-year old man with dental-gingival sepsis treated in the intensive care unit. Based on this case and the relevant literature we suggest a link between a silent patent foramen ovale, paradoxic pathogen dissemination to the brain, and development of brain abscess.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
Fishman AP: The pulmonary circulation. Fishman's pulmonary diseases and disorders. Edited by: Fishman AP, et al. 1998, New York: McGraw-Hill, 1233-60. 3
2.
Gautier JC, Durr A, Koussa S, Lascault G, Grosgogeat Y: Paradoxal cerebral embolism: role of patent oval foramen. Bull Acad Natl Med. 1990, 174: 1031-8.PubMed
3.
Khouzam RN, El-Dokla AM, Menkes DL: Undiagnosed patent foramen ovale presenting as a cryptogenic brain abscess: case report and review of the literature. Heart Lung. 2006, 35: 108-11. 10.1016/j.hrtlng.2005.07.007.CrossRefPubMed
4.
5.
Quaden C, Ghaye B, Dondelinger RF, Belaiche J, Bartsch P, Cataldo DD: Multiple pulmonary arteriovenous malformations. Lancet. 2002, 359: 1998-10.1016/S0140-6736(02)08833-5.CrossRefPubMed
6.
Tse KC, Ooi GC, Wu A, Ho PL, Ip SK, Jim MH, Lam YM, Fan YW, Tso WK, Tsang KW: Multiple brain abscesses in a patient with bilateral pulmonary arteriovenous malformations and immunoglobulin deficiency. Postgrad Med J. 2003, 79: 597-9. 10.1136/pmj.79.936.597.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
7.
Hagen PT, Scholz DG, Edwards WD: Incidence and size of patent foramen ovale during the first 10 decades of life: An autopsy study of 965 normal hearts. Mayo Clin Proc. 1984, 59: 17-20.CrossRefPubMed
8.
Schroeckenstein RF, Wasenda GJ, Edwards JE: Valvular competent patent foramen ovale in adults. Minn Med. 1972, 55: 11-13.PubMed
9.
Lechat P, Mas JL, Lascault G, Loron P, Theard M, Klimczac M, Drobinski G, Thomas D, Grosgogeat Y: Prevalence of patent foramen ovale in patients with stroke. N Engl J Med. 1988, 318: 1148-52.CrossRefPubMed
10.
Friedlander RM, Gonzalez RG, Afridi NA, Pfannl R: Case records of the Massachusetts general hospital. Case 16-2003: A 58-Year-Old Woman with Left-Sided Weakness and a Right Frontal Brain Mass. N Engl J Med. 2003, 348: 2125-32. 10.1056/NEJMcpc030011.CrossRefPubMed
11.
Kawamata T, Takeshita M, Ishizuka N, Hori T: Patent foramen ovale as a possible risk factor for cryptogenic brain abscess: report of two cases. Neurosurgery. 2001, 49: 204-7. 10.1097/00006123-200107000-00032.PubMed
12.
Doepp F, Schreiber SJ, Wandinger KP, Trendelenburg G, Valdueza JM: Multiple brain abscesses following surgical treatment of a perianal abscess. Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2006, 108: 187-90. 10.1016/j.clineuro.2004.11.024.CrossRefPubMed
13.
Listernick R: A 2-year-old girl with a several-day history of vomiting and lethargy. Pediatr Ann. 2003, 32: 570-3.CrossRefPubMed
14.
Chen FC, Tseng YZ, Wu SP, Shen TY, Yang HP, Chen CC: Vegetation on patent foramen ovale presenting as a cryptogenic brain abscess. Int J Cardiol. 2007, Mar 12; PMID: 17360058,
Metadata
Title
Adult brain abscess associated with patent foramen ovale: a case report
Authors
Georgios T Stathopoulos
Christina G Mandila
Georgios V Koukoulitsios
Nikodimos G Katsarelis
Michel Pedonomos
Andreas Karabinis
Publication date
01-12-2007
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Journal of Medical Case Reports / Issue 1/2007
Electronic ISSN: 1752-1947
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1752-1947-1-68

Other articles of this Issue 1/2007

Journal of Medical Case Reports 1/2007 Go to the issue

Case report

Readministration of gefitinib in a responder after treatment discontinuation due to gefinitib-related interstitial lung disease: a case report

Case report

Total myocardial revascularization for situs inversus totalis with dextrocardia: a case report

Case report

PCA-induced respiratory depression simulating stroke following endoluminal repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm: a case report

Case report

Acute pancreatitis related to therapeutic dosing with colchicine: a case report

Case report

Proton pump inhibitor-responsive chronic cough without acid reflux: a case report

Case report

Atrial fibrillation-related cardiomyopathy: a case report