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Non-congenital viral infections of the central nervous system: from the immunocompetent to the immunocompromised child

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Abstract

Non-congenital viral infections of the central nervous system in children can represent a severe clinical condition that needs a prompt diagnosis and management. However, the aetiological diagnosis can be challenging because symptoms are often nonspecific and cerebrospinal fluid analysis is not always diagnostic. In this context, neuroimaging represents a helpful tool, even though radiologic patterns sometimes overlap. The purpose of this pictorial essay is to suggest a schematic representation of different radiologic patterns of non-congenital viral encephalomyelitis based on the predominant viral tropism and vulnerability of specific regions: cortical grey matter, deep grey matter, white matter, brainstem, cerebellum and spine.

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Correspondence to Maria Camilla Rossi-Espagnet.

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Moltoni, G., D’Arco, F., Pasquini, L. et al. Non-congenital viral infections of the central nervous system: from the immunocompetent to the immunocompromised child. Pediatr Radiol 50, 1757–1767 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-020-04746-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-020-04746-6

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