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Semin Neurol 2019; 39(03): 322-333
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1693161
Review Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Imaging of Intracranial Infections

Mohamad Abdalkader
1   Department of Radiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
,
Juliana Xie
1   Department of Radiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
,
Anna Cervantes-Arslanian
2   Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
3   Department of Neurosurgery, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
4   Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
,
Courtney Takahashi
2   Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
3   Department of Neurosurgery, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
,
Asim Z. Mian
1   Department of Radiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
02 August 2019 (online)

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Abstract

Central nervous system (CNS) infections are a major source of morbidity and mortality despite the remarkable progress in prevention and treatment of infectious disease. Because of the difficulty of direct tissue sampling, imaging plays a crucial role in detecting, diagnosing, and monitoring the therapeutic response of CNS infections. An accurate diagnosis in CNS infections is especially rewarding, given the availability of potential effective antimicrobials.

Bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infections may affect the brain and/or its meningeal coverings, and can be characterized by a variety of radiological patterns that help narrow the differential diagnoses and eventually tailor the optimal management.

This review addresses the typical imaging findings of intracranial infectious diseases in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients.

Keywords

neuroimaging - CNS infections - immunocompetent patients - immunocompromised patients
 

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