Intracranial epidural abscess and subdural empyema

[Cami]

Intracranial epidural abscess is a collection of pus between the dura mater and skull. Subdural empyema is a collection of pus between the dura mater and the underlying arachnoid mater. Symptoms of epidural abscess include fever, headache, vomiting, and sometimes lethargy, focal neurologic deficits, seizures, and/or coma. Symptoms of subdural empyema include fever, vomiting, impaired consciousness, and rapid development of neurologic signs suggesting widespread involvement of one cerebral hemisphere. Diagnosis is by contrast-enhanced MRI or, if MRI is not available, contrast-enhanced CT. Treatment is with surgical drainage and antibiotics.
(See also Introduction to Brain Infections.)