The patient went on to have the abscess drained in theater later that day.
Microbiology
SPECIMEN: Specimen type: Pus, total specimen volume: 5 ml
MICROSCOPY: GRAM STAIN
- Leukocytes +++
- Gram-positive cocci +++
- Gram-positive bacilli +++
- Gram-negative bacilli ++
CULTURE
- +++ alpha hemolytic streptococci
Discussion
This case demonstrates typical features of an abscess. Note that the although morphology is helpful, cystic metastases or cystic primary high grades tumors (GBM) can all look very similar. The most helpful sequence, in this case, is diffusion-weighted imaging.