Imaging of meningitis and ventriculitis

Suyash Mohan; Krishan K Jain; Mohammad Arabi; Gaurang V Shah

doi:10.1016/j.nic.2012.04.003

Imaging of meningitis and ventriculitis

Neuroimaging Clin N Am. 2012 Nov;22(4):557-83. doi: 10.1016/j.nic.2012.04.003. Epub 2012 Sep 4.

Authors

Suyash Mohan¹, Krishan K Jain, Mohammad Arabi, Gaurang V Shah

Affiliation

¹ Division of Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. drsuyash@gmail.com

PMID: 23122257
DOI: 10.1016/j.nic.2012.04.003

Abstract

Central nervous system infections account for 1% of primary hospital admissions and 2% of nosocomial infections and when encountered require prompt diagnosis and initiation of specific treatment. Imaging findings are mostly nonspecific with respect to the causative pathogen. This article describes the anatomy of cranial meninges and extra-axial spaces of the brain. Characteristic findings and recent advances in neuroimaging of meningitis and its complications and ventriculitis are summarized, and certain noninfectious causes of meningitis and meningitis mimics are described.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Acute Disease
Adult
Brain / pathology
Brain Abscess / diagnosis
Cerebral Ventriculitis / diagnosis*
Cranial Nerve Diseases / diagnosis
Cross Infection / diagnosis
Diagnosis, Differential
Encephalocele / diagnosis
Humans
Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted*
Infant
Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
Meninges / pathology
Meningitis / diagnosis*
Meningitis / etiology
Reference Values
Spinal Puncture
Vasculitis, Central Nervous System / diagnosis