Intracranial dural empyema

Intracranial dural empyema is a neurosurgical emergency with potentially de vastating complications. The prognosis is adversely affected by delay in di agnosis. Modern imaging techniques, especially contrast enhanced CT and MRI , have improved the speed and accuracy of radiological diagnosis of this co ndition, with an associated reduction in mortality. Despite this, there may still be a delay in diagnosis, partly owing to the subtlety of early radio logical signs, especially on unenhanced CT. We present cases that illustrat e some of the radiological manifestations, complications and potential pitf alls in diagnosis.