Question
A patient with a history of chronic middle ear infection now presents with neurological manifestations, including headache and vomiting. A CT brain image is shown. What is the most probable diagnosis?
| A. |
Extradural Abscess
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| B. |
Cerebral Abscess
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| C. |
Temporal lobe Abscess
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| D. |
Meningitis
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Show Answer
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Correct Answer � C
Explanation
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The CT scan of the brain provided shows a well-circumscribed, ring-enhancing lesion in the temporal lobe of the brain. The lesion demonstrates a central hypodense area (likely necrotic or liquefied material) surrounded by an enhancing rim, typical of an abscess.
The surrounding brain tissue shows edema, indicated by hypodensity in the adjacent areas. The findings suggest a localized infectious process, likely the result of a nearby source of infection.
Temporal lobe abscess is a common complication of chronic middle ear infection (otitis media), as the infection can spread from the ear to the adjacent temporal lobe, forming an abscess. The patient’s symptoms of headache, vomiting, and neurological signs align with this diagnosis.
Extradural abscess: This occurs between the skull and dura mater, but the image shows a deeper lesion within the brain parenchyma, not in the extradural space.
Cerebral abscess: While a cerebral abscess is a broader term, temporal lobe abscess is more specific given the location of the lesion and the history of otitis media.
Meningitis: This condition affects the meninges and typically does not present as a localized ring-enhancing lesion. Meningitis would also show diffuse meningeal enhancement rather than a focal lesion.
