Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Imaging in viral infections of the central nervous system: can images speak for an acutely ill brain?

  • Review Article
  • Published:
Emergency Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Viral infections involving the central nervous system (CNS) may result from a wide variety of agents and have clinically overlapping manifestations. The diagnosis is often made based on a combination of the clinical exam, local epidemiology, imaging, and biochemical findings. Despite the advances in medicine and imaging, the diagnosis often remains elusive. Imaging, however, still plays a vital role in suggesting the diagnosis in typical cases, excluding potential mimics, and in evaluating changes with therapy. Herein, the authors present a review of various common and rare viral encephalitides with emphasis on the imaging literature.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17
Fig. 18
Fig. 19
Fig. 20
Fig. 21

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Solbrig MV, Hasso AN, Jay CA (2008) CNS viruses—diagnostic approach. Neuroimaging Clin N Am 18(1):1–18 vii

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Gupta RK et al (2012) Imaging of central nervous system viral diseases. J Magn Reson Imaging 35(3):477–491

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Moritani T et al (2014) Viral infections and white matter lesions. Radiol Clin North Am 52(2):355–382

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Bulakbasi N, Kocaoglu M (2008) Central nervous system infections of herpesvirus family. Neuroimaging Clin N Am 18(1):53–84 viii

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Bonnici-Mallia M et al (2016) Herpes simplex encephalitis: unusual imaging appearances. BMJ Case Rep 2016. doi:10.1136/bcr-2016-214993

  6. Leonard JR et al (2000) MR imaging of herpes simplex type 1 encephalitis in infants and young children: a separate pattern of findings. AJR Am J Roentgenol 174(6):1651–1655

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Vossough A et al (2008) Imaging findings of neonatal herpes simplex virus type 2 encephalitis. Neuroradiology 50(4):355–366

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Tang JW et al (2003) Brain stem encephalitis caused by primary herpes simplex 2 infection in a young woman. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 74(9):1323–1325

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Weaver S, Rosenblum MK, DeAngelis LM (1999) Herpes varicella zoster encephalitis in immunocompromised patients. Neurology 52(1):193–195

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Chretien F et al (1993) Acute varicella-zoster virus ventriculitis and meningo-myelo-radiculitis in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Acta Neuropathol 86(6):659–665

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Aygun N et al (1998) Multifocal varicella-zoster virus leukoencephalitis in a patient with AIDS: MR findings. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 19(10):1897–1899

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Villota VA, Delgado J, Pachajoa H (2014) Congenital varicella syndrome in a monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancy. J Res Med Sci 19(5):474–476

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. Hagemann G et al (2006) Multiple reversible MR signal changes caused by Epstein-Barr virus encephalitis. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 27(7):1447–1449

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Shian WJ, Chi CS (1996) Epstein-Barr virus encephalitis and encephalomyelitis: MR findings. Pediatr Radiol 26(9):690–693

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Fink KR et al (2010) Neuroimaging of pediatric central nervous system cytomegalovirus infection. Radiographics 30(7):1779–1796

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Hayward JC et al (1991) Lissencephaly-pachygyria associated with congenital cytomegalovirus infection. J Child Neurol 6(2):109–114

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. van der Knaap MS et al (2004) Pattern of white matter abnormalities at MR imaging: use of polymerase chain reaction testing of Guthrie cards to link pattern with congenital cytomegalovirus infection. Radiology 230(2):529–536

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Gorniak RJ et al (2006) MR imaging of human herpesvirus-6-associated encephalitis in 4 patients with anterograde amnesia after allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 27(4):887–891

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Oki J et al (1995) Serial neuroimages of acute necrotizing encephalopathy associated with human herpesvirus 6 infection. Brain Dev 17(5):356–359

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Norrby E, Kristensson K (1997) Measles virus in the brain. Brain Res Bull 44(3):213–220

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Bennetto L, Scolding N (2004) Inflammatory/post-infectious encephalomyelitis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 75(Suppl 1):i22–i28

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  22. Moench TR et al (1988) Acute measles in patients with and without neurological involvement: distribution of measles virus antigen and RNA. J Infect Dis 158(2):433–442

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Lee KY et al (2003) Acute encephalitis associated with measles: MRI features. Neuroradiology 45(2):100–106

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Lee YJ (2011) Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis in children: differential diagnosis from multiple sclerosis on the basis of clinical course. Korean J Pediatr 54(6):234–240

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  25. Buchanan R, Bonthius DJ (2012) Measles virus and associated central nervous system sequelae. Semin Pediatr Neurol 19(3):107–114

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Brismar J et al (1996) Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis: evaluation with CT and MR. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 17(4):761–772

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Prashanth LK et al (2006) Adult onset subacute sclerosing panencephalitis: clinical profile of 39 patients from a tertiary care centre. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 77(5):630–633

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  28. Greenfield JG (1950) Encephalitis and encephalomyelitis in England and Wales during the last decade. Brain 73(2):141–166

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Alkan A et al (2003) Early- and late-state subacute sclerosing panencephalitis: chemical shift imaging and single-voxel MR spectroscopy. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 24(3):501–506

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Suga K et al (2015) Mumps encephalitis with akinesia and mutism. Pediatr Int 57(4):721–724

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Aydemir C et al (2009) Acute tetraventricular hydrocephalus caused by mumps meningoencephalitis in a child. Pediatr Neurosurg 45(6):419–421

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Takanashi J et al (2015) Clinically mild encephalitis with a reversible splenial lesion (MERS) after mumps vaccination. J Neurol Sci 349(1-2):226–228

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Mizushima N, Murakami Y (1986) Deafness following mumps: the possible pathogenesis and incidence of deafness. Auris Nasus Larynx 13(Suppl 1):S55–S57

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Abe T et al (1998) Japanese encephalitis. J Magn Reson Imaging 8(4):755–761

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Handique SK et al (2006) Temporal lobe involvement in Japanese encephalitis: problems in differential diagnosis. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 27(5):1027–1031

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Singh P et al (2001) Coexistent neurocysticercosis and Japanese B encephalitis: MR imaging correlation. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 22(6):1131–1136

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Azad R et al (2003) Is neurocysticercosis a risk factor in coexistent intracranial disease? An MRI based study. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 74(3):359–361

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  38. Petropoulou KA et al (2005) West Nile virus meningoencephalitis: MR imaging findings. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 26(8):1986–1995

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Ali M et al (2005) West Nile virus infection: MR imaging findings in the nervous system. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 26(2):289–297

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Nouranifar RK, Ali M, Nath J (2003) The earliest manifestation of focal encephalitis on diffusion-weighted MRI. Clin Imaging 27(5):316–320

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Leis AA et al (2002) A poliomyelitis-like syndrome from West Nile virus infection. N Engl J Med 347(16):1279–1280

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Cerna F et al (1999) St. Louis encephalitis and the substantia nigra: MR imaging evaluation. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 20(7):1281–1283

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Wasay M et al (2000) St Louis encephalitis: a review of 11 cases in a 1995 Dallas, Tex, epidemic. Arch Neurol 57(1):114–118

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Borawake K et al (2011) Dengue encephalitis. Indian J Crit Care Med 15(3):190–193

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  45. Puccioni-Sohler M, Rosadas C, Cabral-Castro MJ (2013) Neurological complications in dengue infection: a review for clinical practice. Arq Neuropsiquiatr 71(9b):667–671

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Saito N et al (2015) A case of clinically mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion due to dengue fever. Kansenshogaku Zasshi 89(4):465–469

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Gerardin P et al (2016) Chikungunya virus-associated encephalitis: a cohort study on La Reunion Island, 2005–2009. Neurology 86(1):94–102

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Ganesan K et al (2008) Chikungunya encephalomyeloradiculitis: report of 2 cases with neuroimaging and 1 case with autopsy findings. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 29(9):1636–1637

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Gauri LA et al (2012) Post chikungunya brain stem encephalitis. J Assoc Physicians India 60:68–70

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Shu B et al (2011) Design and performance of the CDC real-time reverse transcriptase PCR swine flu panel for detection of 2009 A (H1N1) pandemic influenza virus. J Clin Microbiol 49(7):2614–2619

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  51. Incecik F et al (2012) Fatal encephalitis associated with novel influenza A (H1N1) virus infection in a child. Neurol Sci 33(3):677–679

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Zeng H et al (2013) Clinical and MRI features of neurological complications after influenza A (H1N1) infection in critically ill children. Pediatr Radiol 43(9):1182–1189

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. de Fatima Vasco Aragao M et al (2016) Clinical features and neuroimaging (CT and MRI) findings in presumed Zika virus related congenital infection and microcephaly: retrospective case series study. BMJ 353:i1901

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  54. Mlakar J et al (2016) Zika virus associated with microcephaly. N Engl J Med 374(10):951–958

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Awasthi M et al (2001) Imaging findings in rabies encephalitis. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 22(4):677–680

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Mani J et al (2003) Magnetic resonance imaging in rabies. Postgrad Med J 79(932):352–354

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  57. Lu A et al (2015) Temporal evolution on MRI of successful treatment of rabies. Clin Imaging 39(5):893–896

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Lim CC et al (2002) Nipah virus encephalitis: serial MR study of an emerging disease. Radiology 222(1):219–226

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Wong KT et al (2002) Nipah virus infection: pathology and pathogenesis of an emerging paramyxoviral zoonosis. Am J Pathol 161(6):2153–2167

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  60. Hautala T et al (2011) Young male patients are at elevated risk of developing serious central nervous system complications during acute Puumala hantavirus infection. BMC Infect Dis 11:217

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  61. Haddad J et al (1990) Neonatal echovirus encephalitis with white matter necrosis. Neuropediatrics 21(4):215–217

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. Shen WC et al (1999) MR imaging findings of enteroviral encephaloymelitis: an outbreak in Taiwan. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 20(10):1889–1895

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. Huang YC et al (2013) Adenovirus infection associated with central nervous system dysfunction in children. J Clin Virol 57(4):300–304

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  64. Zagardo MT et al (1998) Rhombencephalitis caused by adenovirus: MR imaging appearance. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 19(10):1901–1903

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  65. Nagasawa H et al (2006) A case of non-herpetic acute limbic encephalitis associated with a type-2 adenovirus infection. Rinsho Shinkeigaku 46(5):322–327

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  66. Hibino M et al (2014) Transient hemiparesis and hemianesthesia in an atypical case of adult-onset clinically mild encephalitis/ encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion associated with adenovirus infection. Intern Med 53(11):1183–1185

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  67. Takanashi J et al (2010) Clinical and radiological features of rotavirus cerebellitis. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 31(9):1591–1595

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  68. Barre-Sinoussi F et al (1983) Isolation of a T-lymphotropic retrovirus from a patient at risk for acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Science 220(4599):868–871

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  69. Smith AB, Smirniotopoulos JG, Rushing EJ (2008) From the archives of the AFIP: central nervous system infections associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection: radiologic-pathologic correlation. Radiographics 28(7):2033–2058

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  70. Filippi CG et al (2001) Diffusion tensor imaging of patients with HIV and normal-appearing white matter on MR images of the brain. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 22(2):277–283

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  71. Patel SH et al (2003) Whole-brain N-acetylaspartate level and cognitive performance in HIV infection. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 24(8):1587–1591

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  72. Dore GJ et al (2003) Marked improvement in survival following AIDS dementia complex in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy. Aids 17(10):1539–1545

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  73. Padgett BL et al (1971) Cultivation of papova-like virus from human brain with progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy. Lancet 1(7712):1257–1260

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  74. Astrom KE, Mancall EL, Richardson EP Jr (1958) Progressive multifocal leuko-encephalopathy; a hitherto unrecognized complication of chronic lymphatic leukaemia and Hodgkin’s disease. Brain 81(1):93–111

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  75. Hartman EA, Huang D (2008) Update on PML: lessons from the HIV uninfected and new insights in pathogenesis and treatment. Curr HIV/AIDS Rep 5(3):112–119

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  76. Bag AK et al (2010) JC virus infection of the brain. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 31(9):1564–1576

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  77. Khanna N et al (2009) Incidence and outcome of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy over 20 years of the Swiss HIV Cohort Study. Clin Infect Dis 48(10):1459–1466

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  78. Whiteman ML et al (1993) Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in 47 HIV-seropositive patients: neuroimaging with clinical and pathologic correlation. Radiology 187(1):233–240

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  79. Bergui M et al (2004) Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy: diffusion-weighted imaging and pathological correlations. Neuroradiology 46(1):22–25

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  80. Katz-Brull R et al (2004) Elevation of myoinositol is associated with disease containment in progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. Neurology 63(5):897–900

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  81. Bienfait HP et al (1998) Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy presenting as a solitary gray matter lesion. J Neurol 245(8):557–558

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  82. Bernal-Cano F, Joseph JT, Koralnik IJ (2007) Spinal cord lesions of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in an acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patient. J Neurovirol 13(5):474–476

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA

    Vijetha Vinod Maller

  2. Department of Radiology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, USA

    Girish Bathla & Toshio Moritani

  3. Department of Radiology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA

    Kathleen J. Helton

Authors
  1. Vijetha Vinod Maller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Girish Bathla
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Toshio Moritani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Kathleen J. Helton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Vijetha Vinod Maller.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Maller, V.V., Bathla, G., Moritani, T. et al. Imaging in viral infections of the central nervous system: can images speak for an acutely ill brain?. Emerg Radiol 24, 287–300 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10140-016-1463-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10140-016-1463-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation