Collection of pus in subdural or epidural space or both; subdural much more common
IMAGING
General Features
CT Findings
MR Findings
Ultrasonographic Findings
Imaging Recommendations
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
Gross Pathologic & Surgical Features
Microscopic Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Demographics
Natural History & Prognosis
Treatment
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Consider
Image Interpretation Pearls
Selected References
Lundy P et al: Intracranial subdural empyemas and epidural abscesses in children. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 24(1):14-21, 2019
Mattogno PP et al: Intracranial subdural empyema: diagnosis and treatment update. J Neurosurg Sci. 63(1):101-2, 2019
Suthar R et al: Bacterial infections of the central nervous system. Indian J Pediatr. 86(1):60-9, 2019
Yoon J et al: Check the ear. The importance of ear examinations in assessment of intracranial subdural empyema. Trop Med Infect Dis. 4(3), 2019
Arifianto MR et al: Interhemispheric and infratentorial subdural empyema with preseptal cellulitis as complications of sinusitis: a case report. Pediatr Neurosurg. 53(2):128-33, 2018
Muzumdar D et al: Subdural empyema in children. Childs Nerv Syst. 34(10):1881-7, 2018
Sivaswamy L et al: Intracranial complications of sinusitis. J Pediatr. 195:306, 2018
Rapalino O et al: Intracranial Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases Presenting as Neurosurgical Pathologies. Neurosurgery. 81(1):10-28, 2017
French H et al: Intracranial subdural empyema: a 10-year case series. Ochsner J. 14(2):188-94, 2014
Salomão JF et al: Neurosurgical implications of Pott's puffy tumor in children and adolescents. Childs Nerv Syst. 30(9):1527-34, 2014
Sharma PK et al: Orbitocranial complications of acute sinusitis in children. J Emerg Med. 47(3):282-5, 2014
Holland AA et al: Complicated subdural empyema in an adolescent. Arch Clin Neuropsychol. 28(1):81-91, 2013
Calik M et al: Masked subdural empyema secondary to frontal sinusitis. Am J Emerg Med. 30(8):1657, 2012
Cole TS et al: Pediatric focal intracranial suppuration: a UK single-center experience. Childs Nerv Syst. 28(12):2109-14, 2012
Levine HR et al: A pictorial review of complications of acute coalescent mastoiditis. Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). 25(4):372-3, 2012
Nickerson JP et al: Neuroimaging of pediatric intracranial infection--part 1: techniques and bacterial infections. J Neuroimaging. 22(2):e42-51, 2012
Valencia MP et al: Challenging pyogenic cerebral abscess complicated by subdural empyema. A case report. Neuroradiol J. 25(6):676-9, 2012
Legrand M et al: Paediatric intracranial empyema: differences according to age. Eur J Pediatr. 168(10):1235-41, 2009
Karaman E et al: Pott's puffy tumor. J Craniofac Surg. 19(6):1694-7, 2008
Wu TJ et al: Subdural empyema in children--20-year experience in a medical center. J Microbiol Immunol Infect. 41(1):62-7, 2008
Ziai WC et al: Update in the diagnosis and management of central nervous system infections. Neurol Clin. 26(2):427-68, viii, 2008
Foerster BR et al: Intracranial infections: clinical and imaging characteristics. Acta Radiol. 48(8):875-93, 2007
Osborn MK et al: Subdural empyema and other suppurative complications of paranasal sinusitis. Lancet Infect Dis. 7(1):62-7, 2007
Fanning NF et al: Serial diffusion-weighted MRI correlates with clinical course and treatment response in children with intracranial pus collections. Pediatr Radiol. 36(1):26-37, 2006
Venkatesh MS et al: Pediatric infratentorial subdural empyema: analysis of 14 cases. J Neurosurg. 105(5 Suppl):370-7, 2006
Wong AM et al: Diffusion-weighted MR imaging of subdural empyemas in children. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 25(6):1016-21, 2004
Heran NS et al: Conservative neurosurgical management of intracranial epidural abscesses in children. Neurosurgery. 53(4):893-7; discussion 897-8, 2003
Lim CC et al: Diffusion-weighted MR imaging in intracranial infections. Ann Acad Med Singapore. 32(4):446-9, 2003
Tsai YD et al: Intracranial suppuration: a clinical comparison of subdural empyemas and epidural abscesses. Surg Neurol. 59(3):191-6; discussion 196, 2003
Tsuchiya K et al: Diffusion-weighted MRI of subdural and epidural empyemas. Neuroradiology. 45(4):220-3, 2003
Guzman R et al: Use of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in differentiating purulent brain processes from cystic brain tumors. J Neurosurg. 97(5):1101-7, 2002
Rohde V et al: Complications of burr-hole craniostomy and closed-system drainage for chronic subdural hematomas: a retrospective analysis of 376 patients. Neurosurg Rev. 25(1-2):89-94, 2002
Bambakidis NC et al: Intracranial complications of frontal sinusitis in children: Pott's puffy tumor revisited. Pediatr Neurosurg. 35(2):82-9, 2001
Nathoo N et al: Cranial extradural empyema in the era of computed tomography: a review of 82 cases. Neurosurgery. 44(4):748-53; discussion 753-4, 1999
Chen CY et al: Subdural empyema in 10 infants: US characteristics and clinical correlates. Radiology. 207(3):609-17, 1998
Related Anatomy
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Related Differential Diagnoses
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References
Tables
Tables
KEY FACTS
Terminology
Imaging
Top Differential Diagnoses
Pathology
Clinical Issues
TERMINOLOGY
Abbreviations
Subdural empyema (SDE), epidural empyema (EDE)
Synonyms
EDE = epidural abscess
Definitions
Collection of pus in subdural or epidural space or both; subdural much more common
IMAGING
General Features
CT Findings
MR Findings
Ultrasonographic Findings
Imaging Recommendations
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
Gross Pathologic & Surgical Features
Microscopic Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Demographics
Natural History & Prognosis
Treatment
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Consider
Image Interpretation Pearls
Selected References
Lundy P et al: Intracranial subdural empyemas and epidural abscesses in children. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 24(1):14-21, 2019
Mattogno PP et al: Intracranial subdural empyema: diagnosis and treatment update. J Neurosurg Sci. 63(1):101-2, 2019
Suthar R et al: Bacterial infections of the central nervous system. Indian J Pediatr. 86(1):60-9, 2019
Yoon J et al: Check the ear. The importance of ear examinations in assessment of intracranial subdural empyema. Trop Med Infect Dis. 4(3), 2019
Arifianto MR et al: Interhemispheric and infratentorial subdural empyema with preseptal cellulitis as complications of sinusitis: a case report. Pediatr Neurosurg. 53(2):128-33, 2018
Muzumdar D et al: Subdural empyema in children. Childs Nerv Syst. 34(10):1881-7, 2018
Sivaswamy L et al: Intracranial complications of sinusitis. J Pediatr. 195:306, 2018
Rapalino O et al: Intracranial Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases Presenting as Neurosurgical Pathologies. Neurosurgery. 81(1):10-28, 2017
French H et al: Intracranial subdural empyema: a 10-year case series. Ochsner J. 14(2):188-94, 2014
Salomão JF et al: Neurosurgical implications of Pott's puffy tumor in children and adolescents. Childs Nerv Syst. 30(9):1527-34, 2014
Sharma PK et al: Orbitocranial complications of acute sinusitis in children. J Emerg Med. 47(3):282-5, 2014
Holland AA et al: Complicated subdural empyema in an adolescent. Arch Clin Neuropsychol. 28(1):81-91, 2013
Calik M et al: Masked subdural empyema secondary to frontal sinusitis. Am J Emerg Med. 30(8):1657, 2012
Cole TS et al: Pediatric focal intracranial suppuration: a UK single-center experience. Childs Nerv Syst. 28(12):2109-14, 2012
Levine HR et al: A pictorial review of complications of acute coalescent mastoiditis. Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). 25(4):372-3, 2012
Nickerson JP et al: Neuroimaging of pediatric intracranial infection--part 1: techniques and bacterial infections. J Neuroimaging. 22(2):e42-51, 2012
Valencia MP et al: Challenging pyogenic cerebral abscess complicated by subdural empyema. A case report. Neuroradiol J. 25(6):676-9, 2012
Legrand M et al: Paediatric intracranial empyema: differences according to age. Eur J Pediatr. 168(10):1235-41, 2009
Karaman E et al: Pott's puffy tumor. J Craniofac Surg. 19(6):1694-7, 2008
Wu TJ et al: Subdural empyema in children--20-year experience in a medical center. J Microbiol Immunol Infect. 41(1):62-7, 2008
Ziai WC et al: Update in the diagnosis and management of central nervous system infections. Neurol Clin. 26(2):427-68, viii, 2008
Foerster BR et al: Intracranial infections: clinical and imaging characteristics. Acta Radiol. 48(8):875-93, 2007
Osborn MK et al: Subdural empyema and other suppurative complications of paranasal sinusitis. Lancet Infect Dis. 7(1):62-7, 2007
Fanning NF et al: Serial diffusion-weighted MRI correlates with clinical course and treatment response in children with intracranial pus collections. Pediatr Radiol. 36(1):26-37, 2006
Venkatesh MS et al: Pediatric infratentorial subdural empyema: analysis of 14 cases. J Neurosurg. 105(5 Suppl):370-7, 2006
Wong AM et al: Diffusion-weighted MR imaging of subdural empyemas in children. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 25(6):1016-21, 2004
Heran NS et al: Conservative neurosurgical management of intracranial epidural abscesses in children. Neurosurgery. 53(4):893-7; discussion 897-8, 2003
Lim CC et al: Diffusion-weighted MR imaging in intracranial infections. Ann Acad Med Singapore. 32(4):446-9, 2003
Tsai YD et al: Intracranial suppuration: a clinical comparison of subdural empyemas and epidural abscesses. Surg Neurol. 59(3):191-6; discussion 196, 2003
Tsuchiya K et al: Diffusion-weighted MRI of subdural and epidural empyemas. Neuroradiology. 45(4):220-3, 2003
Guzman R et al: Use of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in differentiating purulent brain processes from cystic brain tumors. J Neurosurg. 97(5):1101-7, 2002
Rohde V et al: Complications of burr-hole craniostomy and closed-system drainage for chronic subdural hematomas: a retrospective analysis of 376 patients. Neurosurg Rev. 25(1-2):89-94, 2002
Bambakidis NC et al: Intracranial complications of frontal sinusitis in children: Pott's puffy tumor revisited. Pediatr Neurosurg. 35(2):82-9, 2001
Nathoo N et al: Cranial extradural empyema in the era of computed tomography: a review of 82 cases. Neurosurgery. 44(4):748-53; discussion 753-4, 1999
Chen CY et al: Subdural empyema in 10 infants: US characteristics and clinical correlates. Radiology. 207(3):609-17, 1998
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