Gross and Microscopic Features of Britt and Enzmann for the Stages of a Brain Abscess

Britt and Enzmann listed gross and microscopic features of a brain abscess during its evolution. The authors are from Stanford University.

Stages of a brain abscess:

(1) early cerebritis

(2) late cerebritis

(3) early capsule

(4) late capsule

The brain abscess can be evaluated based on:

(1) features during needle aspiration

(2) gross appearance

(3) histologic features

Feature	Early Cerebritis	Late Cerebritis	Early Capsule	Late Capsule
gross appearance	softening with variable necrosis	necrotic but edge merges with brain	partial capsule separating necrosis from surrounding	definite, well-formed capsule
resistance on aspiration	none	none	variable	definite, with "pop"
pus in aspirate	none	variable	present	present
collagen in histology	none	none	scattered areas	definite capsule
fibroblastic response	none	present	present	present
histologic demarcation from brain	poor	some	definite	definite

To read more or access our algorithms and calculators, please log in or register.