Intracranial Infection and Inflammation

Review
In: Diseases of the Brain, Head and Neck, Spine 2020–2023: Diagnostic Imaging [Internet]. Cham (CH): Springer; 2020. Chapter 6.
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Excerpt

Central nervous system (CNS) infections carry high morbidity and mortality risks. The spectrum of infection includes: meningitis; ventriculitis; cerebritis/brain abscesses; subdural/epidural empyemas; and encephalitis.

The most common emerging inflammatory disorders that may affect the CNS are IgG-related disease, autoimmune encephalitis, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD), and Anti-GQ1b IgG antibody syndrome. Sarcoidosis and vasculitis may also affect the brain and spinal cord. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the method of choice in detection, evaluation, and follow-up of CNS infection and inflammation.

In this chapter, the imaging findings and diagnostic roadmaps of most common clinical challenges in infectious and inflammatory CNS disorders are discussed and illustrated.

Publication types

  • Review