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Peer-reviewedCC BY-NC-SASurgical neurology international

Cerebellar abscess originating from an unexpected source: Case illustration.

  • Luis A Robles1
  • Ryan P Palsma2
  • Luis E Castro1
  • Diego G Robles Rodriguez1
  • Aldo Curiel Curiel1
  • Ian Cote3
  1. 1Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital CMQ Premiere, Jalisco, Mexico.
  2. 2Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center, Arizona, United States.
  3. 3Department of Neurosurgery, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States.
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Abstract

Background

Cerebellar abscesses are uncommon and most frequently occur in the setting of immunosuppression, systemic infection, or contiguous spread from otomastoiditis or otitis media. Subcutaneous abscesses have not previously been described as a source of intracranial abscess formation.Case description

We present an unusual case of a 32-year-old previously healthy female with progressive headache, vomiting, and neurological deterioration. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a right cerebellar hemisphere mass with significant surrounding edema and mass effect. Initial differential diagnosis included high-grade glioma and metastatic disease. Surgical exploration confirmed a cerebellar abscess. Extensive workup failed to identify conventional etiologies; however, the patient had recently undergone drainage and antibiotic treatment for a subcutaneous abscess. Microbiological analysis identified the same microorganism in both the subcutaneous and cerebellar abscesses, suggesting hematogenous dissemination from the initial soft-tissue infection. These findings strongly suggest that the initial infection led to the cerebellar abscess.Conclusion

This case study highlights a rare and previously undescribed source of cerebellar abscess formation in an immunocompetent patient. Clinicians should consider subcutaneous abscesses as a potential etiology of intracranial abscess when the most common causes of infectious sources are not identified.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{robles2026cerebellar,
  title = {{Cerebellar abscess originating from an unexpected source: Case illustration.}},
  author = {Luis A Robles and Ryan P Palsma and Luis E Castro and Diego G Robles Rodriguez and Aldo Curiel Curiel and Ian Cote},
  journal = {Surgical neurology international},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.25259/sni_1073_2026},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42974289},
  note = {CC BY-NC-SA},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Cerebellar abscess originating from an unexpected source: Case illustration.
AU  - Luis A Robles
AU  - Ryan P Palsma
AU  - Luis E Castro
AU  - Diego G Robles Rodriguez
AU  - Aldo Curiel Curiel
AU  - Ian Cote
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/30
JO  - Surgical neurology international
DO  - 10.25259/sni_1073_2026
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42974289
AB  - Background  Cerebellar abscesses are uncommon and most frequently occur in the setting of immunosuppression, systemic infection, or contiguous spread from otomastoiditis or otitis media. Subcutaneous abscesses have not previously been described as a source of intracranial abscess formation.Case description  We present an unusual case of a 32-year-old previously healthy female with progressive headache, vomiting, and neurological deterioration. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a right cerebellar hemisphere mass with significant surrounding edema and mass effect. Initial differential diagnosis included high-grade glioma and metastatic disease. Surgical exploration confirmed a cerebellar abscess. Extensive workup failed to identify conventional etiologies; however, the patient had recently undergone drainage and antibiotic treatment for a subcutaneous abscess. Microbiological analysis identified the same microorganism in both the subcutaneous and cerebellar abscesses, suggesting hematogenous dissemination from the initial soft-tissue infection. These findings strongly suggest that the initial infection led to the cerebellar abscess.Conclusion  This case study highlights a rare and previously undescribed source of cerebellar abscess formation in an immunocompetent patient. Clinicians should consider subcutaneous abscesses as a potential etiology of intracranial abscess when the most common causes of infectious sources are not identified.
SN  - 2229-5097
SN  - 2152-7806
ER  -