Neuroimaging clinics of North America
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Neuroimaging Clin. N. Am. · Nov 2012
ReviewNeurosurgical aspects of central nervous system infections.
Infections of the central nervous system (CNS) can be severe, disabling, and potentially fatal. Infections of the central nervous system (CNS) can be severe, disabling, and potentially fatal. Appropriate recognition of symptoms facilitates expeditious evaluation, prompt diagnosis, and timely treatment. ⋯ This review explores the presentation, pathogenesis, evaluation, and treatment of the most common infections of the CNS. Discussion of treatment options also includes possible neurosurgical interventions. The infections considered are cerebral abscess, subdural empyema, meningitis, encephalitis, toxoplasmosis, neurocysticercosis, diskitis, and spinal epidural abscess.
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Infections of the head and neck vary in their clinical course and outcome because of the diversity of organs and anatomic compartments involved. Imaging plays a central role in delineating the anatomic extent of the disease process, identifying the infection source, and detecting complications. The utility of imaging to differentiate between a solid phlegmonous mass and an abscess cannot be overemphasized. This review briefly describes and pictorially illustrates the typical imaging findings of some important head and neck infections, such as malignant otitis externa, otomastoiditis bacterial and fungal sinusitis, orbital cellulitis, sialadenitis, cervical lymphadenitis, and deep neck space infections.