A 'silent' intracranial complication of frontal sinusitis

Frontal sinusitis, an inflammation of the sinuses just above the eyes, does not often cause problems within the cranium (the part of the skull that surrounds the brain), especially with the widespread use of antibiotics today. But in this reported case, the patient developed an abscess on the frontal lobe of his brain without any distinct (focal) neurological signs. He was seen and treated with antibiotics for his sinusitis, but he had persistent headaches and fever. The patient was judged to be uncooperative when he signed himself out of the hospital. He was readmitted a week later with fever, and a CT (computed tomography) scan was done, which showed the brain involvement. The patient was sent to a neurosurgical unit, put on intravenous antibiotics, and operated upon to drain the brain abscess; the sinuses were also treated. He responded well to this treatment, and was sent home after five weeks of hospitalization, but failed to keep his follow-up appointments. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)