CT-guided drainage of a brainstem abscess in a cat as an emergency treatment procedure.

Free-hand CT-guided drainage of a brainstem abscess is not without risk; however, in this case it led to significant clinical improvement and stabilisation likely owing to reduced intracranial pressure. It also provided a diagnostic sample that allowed successful medical treatment planning and outcome. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing the successful management of a brainstem abscess by CT-guided drainage in the veterinary literature. It suggests that stereotactic drainage followed by medical therapy can be considered a successful therapeutic alternative to brain surgery or medical treatment alone, providing an emergency treatment in cases of acute brainstem dysfunction.