Listeria monocytogenes brain abscesses presenting as contiguous, tubular rim-enhancing lesions on Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Case series and literature review

Neuroradiol J. 2024 Mar 17:19714009241240054. doi: 10.1177/19714009241240054. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Listeriosis has more than a 50% mortality when the central nervous system is involved, necessitating rapid diagnosis and treatment. We present four patients with brain abscesses in the setting of diagnosed neurolisteriosis, all of which demonstrated an odd presentation of multiple small, contiguous tubular lesions with rim enhancement on magnetic resonance imaging. Our review of published cases of neurolisteriosis suggests that this may be a useful pattern to identify neurolisteriosis abscesses, allowing earlier detection and therapy.

Keywords: Listeria brain abscess; Listeria monocytogenes; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; infectious imaging sign; neurolisteriosis.