RECURRENT NOCARDIAL BRAIN ABSCESSES TREATED BY REPEATED STEREOTAXIC ASPIRATIONS

A case of a 61-year-old diabetic patient who had a new onset simple pa rtial seizure is presented. Past medical history was remarkable for pu lmonary sarcoidosis for which the patient was on chronic steroid thera py. Computed tomography scan demonstrated a postcentral abscess which was aspirated under stereotactic guidance. Nocardia asteroides was ide ntified. The patient was placed on intravenous trimethoprim and sulfam ethoxazole. He required two further stereotactic aspirations of recrud escences until symptoms resolved. The use of repeated stereotactic asp iration in place of an open surgical procedure is advocated for the tr eatment of nocardial abscesses. (C) Harcourt Brace & Co. Ltd 1998.