Advanced

AJNR - American Journal of Neuroradiology

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Einsiedel, L. Articles by Gordon, D. L. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Einsiedel, L. Articles by Gordon, D. L.

American Journal of Neuroradiology 24:1379-1382, August 2003
© 2003 American Society of Neuroradiology

BRAIN

MR Findings in Murray Valley Encephalitis

Lloyd Einsiedel^a, Evelyn Kat^b, Janakan Ravindran^c, John Slavotinek^b and David L. Gordon^a

^a Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, Australia
^b Department of Medical Imaging, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, Australia
^c Department of Neurology, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, Australia

Address correspondence to Dr. David L. Gordon, Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Flinders Medical Centre, Bedfork Park, South Australia, 5042, Australia

Summary: Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE) is caused by a flavivirus related to West Nile and St. Louis encephalitis viruses. We report a case of MVE resulting in quadriplegia and respiratory failure. MR imaging demonstrated thalamic hyperintensity on T2-weighted images, with similar involvement of the red nucleus, substantia nigra, and cervical cord. These findings preceded serologic diagnosis and are similar to those of Japanese encephalitis. In the appropriate setting, thalamic T2 hyperintensity is suggestive of flavivirus infection.