Emergent neuroimaging of intracranial infection/inflammation

Radiol Clin North Am. 2011 Jan;49(1):47-62. doi: 10.1016/j.rcl.2010.08.002.

Abstract

Infectious and inflammatory processes of the intracranial compartment often result in acute clinical presentations. The possible causes are legion. Clues to the diagnosis involve clinical presentation, laboratory analysis, and neuroimaging. This article reviews some of the salient factors in understanding intracranial infection/ inflammation, including pathophysiology and neuroimaging protocols/findings, and provides some examples and a few "pearls and pitfalls."

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Brain / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain / microbiology
  • Brain / pathology
  • Brain Diseases / diagnosis
  • Brain Diseases / microbiology
  • Brain Diseases / parasitology
  • Central Nervous System Fungal Infections / diagnosis
  • Central Nervous System Fungal Infections / microbiology
  • Central Nervous System Infections / diagnosis*
  • Central Nervous System Infections / microbiology
  • Central Nervous System Parasitic Infections / diagnosis
  • Central Nervous System Parasitic Infections / parasitology
  • Central Nervous System Viral Diseases / diagnosis
  • Central Nervous System Viral Diseases / microbiology
  • Encephalitis / diagnosis*
  • Encephalomyelitis, Acute Disseminated / diagnosis
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
  • Multiple Sclerosis / diagnosis
  • Neuromyelitis Optica / diagnosis
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods*