Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
3086519 | Pediatric Neurology | 2009 | 4 Pages |
Diagnosis of extradural abscesses can be difficult and is often delayed. The case is presented of a 13-year-old girl who was afebrile and had episodes of expressive aphasia, with maintenance of awareness and understanding, lasting for 2-3 minutes and with normal neurologic examination in between. She was found to have a left frontal extradural abscess overlying the region of Broca's area (Brodmann area 44/45) on magnetic resonance imaging. An electroencephalogram showed continuous delta activity in the left frontotemporal region. She made a full recovery after surgical evacuation of pus, which upon culture grew Streptococcus milleri. The possible cause of transient aphasia in this condition is pressure-induced or inflammatory mediator–induced ischemia, with or without associated focal seizures.