Radiology, Vol 145, 79-84, Copyright © 1982 by Radiological Society of North America
The effect of short-term corticosteroid treatment on the CT appearance of experimental brain abscesses
DR Enzmann, RH Britt, RC Placone Jr, W Obana, B Lyons and AS Yeager
The effect of short-term corticosteroid treatment on contrast enhancement
was investigated in an experimental brain abscess model. The degree of
enhancement was reduced in the cerebritis stage, unaffected in the capsule
stage, and intermediate in the transitional stage. The area and pattern of
enhancement were also altered in the cerebritis stage. Although the
magnitude of the entire cerebritis time- density curve (extended for 60
minutes) was decreased by the steroids, its configuration was unchanged.
Prior to steroid administration, the 10- and 60-minute components of the
curve discriminated between cerebritis and capsule stages, with the latter
exhibiting a far lower 60-minute value. Implications for treatment of brain
abscesses are discussed.
