Elsevier

Seminars in Roentgenology

Volume 39, Issue 4, October 2004, Pages 458-464
Seminars in Roentgenology

Imaging of meningitis

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ro.2004.06.009Get rights and content

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Uncomplicated meningitis

In uncomplicated meningitis, most CT studies are normal despite the administration of contrast material.3 Similarly, about 50% of contrast enhanced MRI studies are also unremarkable. Differentiation of prominent enhancing arteries and veins in children may be difficult to distinguish from true pial enhancement as seen in meningitis. Occasionally, there may be swelling of the brain and extra-axial CSF-containing spaces may appear slightly wide.2 Enhancement of subarachnoid space is believed to

Hydrocephalus

Most hydrocephalus resulting from meningeal disease is of the communication type. Accumulation of an exudate is said to block the resorption of CSF by the Pachionian granulations, perivascular spaces, and the brain itself. Communicating hydrocephalus is the most common complication of bacterial meningitis. A mild degree of hydrocephalus is found in most patients with meningitis but in most of them this is a transient phenomenon.3 In some patients, the ventricular size never returns to normal

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