Research

Intracranial suppuration: Review of an 8-year experience at Umtata General Hospital and Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital, Eastern Cape, South Africa

M A Anwary

Abstract


Background. Intracranial suppuration (ICS) is a life-threatening condition caused by various disease processes and consisting of brain abscess and extradural and subdural empyema. The major causes have changed over the decades. To the author’s knowledge, the incidence of ICS in South Africa (SA) has not been established.

Objective. To determine the incidence of ICS, overall and according to age and gender, and to identify the source and distribution of ICS. Method. The archive of the radiology departments at Umtata General Hospital and Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in the Transkei region, Eastern Cape Province, SA, was searched retrospectively for computed tomography (CT) reports of patients diagnosed with ICS. Cases in which the CT images, patients’ clinical information and CT reports were available for an uninterrupted period of at least 1 year were included.

Results. Five time frames were established, encompassing 8 years of data. The first time frame established an incidence of ICS of 1/100 000/year for the Transkei region. All the time frames were utilised to determine the incidence according to gender and age, and the source and distribution of ICS. The incidence of ICS was higher among males than females, and highest in the age groups 0 - 10 and 11 - 20 years. A seasonal variation in the incidence of sinusitis- and meningitis-related ICS was noted. Numbers of cases declined during the last 3 years of the study period.

Conclusion. Sinusitis, head trauma, ear infection and meningitis were the major sources of ICS. A pulmonary source was not a major feature. In the last 4 years, trauma became the commonest source of ICS. A steady decline in ear infection- and meningitis-related ICS was noted. 



Author's affiliations

M A Anwary, Department of Radiology, Walter Sisulu University, Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital and Umtata General Hospital, Mthatha, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Full Text

PDF (237KB)

Keywords

Brain abscess; Subdural empyema; Extradural empyema; Computed tomography

Cite this article

South African Medical Journal 2015;105(7):584-588. DOI:10.7196/SAMJnew.7882

Article History

Date submitted: 2014-09-18
Date published: 2015-09-21

Article Views

Abstract views: 2651
Full text views: 908

Comments on this article

*Read our policy for posting comments here