# Anomalous Left Superior Vena Cava Predisposing to Recurrent Brain Abscesses: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

## TL;DR

A rare case of recurrent brain abscesses is linked to an unusual heart condition, highlighting the need for comprehensive diagnosis and treatment.

## Contribution

This paper reports a novel case linking right to left cardiac shunting to recurrent brain abscesses.

## Key findings

- Right to left cardiac shunting may predispose to recurrent brain abscesses.
- A thorough systemic workup is essential for diagnosing and managing this rare condition.
- Multispecialty treatment is recommended for such uncommon presentations.

## Abstract

Brain abscess is a devastating illness, with a high risk of morbidity and mortality. Recurrent brain abscess poses a challenge to diagnosis while treatment options may differ. Right to left shunt is a lesser-explored etiology for recurrent brain abscesses. PubMed literature review was performed to study all published studies with reference to right to left cardiac shunt as a possible etiology for the recurrent brain abscesses. The authors also report a case of a young male who developed recurrent brain abscess after previous resection and treatment. Right to left cardiac shunting of deoxygenated blood is an etiology for recurrent brain abscess formation. Thorough systemic workup and multispecialty treatment is recommended to treat this relatively uncommon presentation.