Imaging of Central Nervous System Parasitic Infections

Abstract

Parasitic infections of the central nervous system (CNS) constitute a wide range of diseases, some quite prevalent across the world, some exceedingly rare. Causative parasites can be divided into two groups: unicellular protozoa and multicellular helminthic worms. This includes diseases such as neurotoxoplasmosis and neurocysticercosis, which represent a major cause of pathology among certain populations, and some more uncommon diseases, as primary amebic meningoencephalitis and neuroschistosomiasis. In this review, we focus on imaging manifestation and some helpful clinical and epidemiologic features of such conditions, providing radiologists with helpful information to identify and correctly diagnose the most common of those pathologies.

Keywords: CNS parasitic infections; Cerebral echinococcosis; Neurocysticercosis; Neuroschistosomiasis; Neurosparganosis; Neurotoxoplasmosis; Parasitic neuroinfections; Toxocariasis.