J Korean Neurosurg Soc.  2001 Dec;30(12):1430-1434.

A Case of Brain Abscess in a Patient with Primary Mucociliary Transport Failure

• Yoon SH
• Lee HJ
• Yi JS
• Yang JH
• Lee IW
• Song KS
• Kang JK

Abstract

The authors present a case of brain abscess in a patient with primary mucociliary transport failure. Primary mucociliary transport failure is unfamiliar term to neurosurgeon. It encompasses three hereditary disorders, that is, primary ciliary dyskinesia, cystic fibrosis and Young's syndrome. Clinical manifestations in these disorders appear to overlap each other, e.g., male infertility and chronic sinopulmonary infections. These are characterized by ciliary dysfunction or abnormality of mucus secretion therefore recurrent infection occurs in organs containing the mucociliary transport system. Major causes of non-traumatic brain abscess are sinusitis and pulmonary infection. So the possibility of brain abscess is much higher if mucociliary transport failure exists. Especially, young patients who have brain abscess coexisting with chronic sinopulmonary infection should be considered primary mucociliary transport failure.

Keyword

Primary mucociliary transport failure; Brain abscess

MeSH Terms

Brain Abscess*
Brain*
Cystic Fibrosis
Humans
Infertility, Male
Kartagener Syndrome
Male
Mucociliary Clearance*
Mucus
Sinusitis