Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Magnetic resonance restricted diffusion resolution correlates with clinical improvement and response to treatment in herpes simplex encephalitis

  • Practical Pearl
  • Published:
Neurocritical Care Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction: A 34-year-old man presented with herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE), with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showing dense foci of restricted diffusion in the temporal lobe.

Case Report: With treatment and clinical improvement, follow-up MRI done 8 days later showed complete resolution of the restricted diffusion abnormalities, whereas other MRI sequences suggested interval progression.

Discussion: Restricted diffusion abnormalities on MRI in patients with HSE may be more sensitive to and correlate better with disease activity in HSE.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Raschilas F, Wolff M, Delatour F, et al. Outcome of and prognostic factors for herpes simplex encephalitis in adult patients: results of a multicenter study. Clin Infect Dis 2002;35:254–260.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. McCabe K, Tyler K, Tanabe J. Diffusion-weighted MRI abnormalities as a clue to the diagnosis of herpes simplex encephalitis. Neurology 2003;61:1015–1016.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Schroth G, Gawehn J, Thron A, Vallbracht A, Voigt K. Early diagnosis of herpes simplex encephalitis by MRI. Neurology 1987;37:179–183.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Teixeira J, Zimmerman RA, Haselgrove JC, Bilaniuk LT, Hunter JV. Diffusion imaging in pediatric central nervous system infections. Neuroradiology 2001;43:1031–1036.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Krueger K, Kugel H, Grond M, Thiel A, Maintz D, Lackner K. Late resolution of diffusion-weighted MRI changes in a patient with prolonged reversible ischemic neurologic deficit after thrombolytic therapy. Stroke 2000;31:2715–2718.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC

    Gerard Riedy

  2. Department of Neurology, Walter Reed Army Medical, Center, 6900 Georgia Ave., NW, Bldg. #2, 20307, Washington, DC

    Joshua L. Duckworth, Jason S. Hawley & Mark E. Landau

Authors
  1. Joshua L. Duckworth
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jason S. Hawley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Gerard Riedy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Mark E. Landau
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jason S. Hawley.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Duckworth, J.L., Hawley, J.S., Riedy, G. et al. Magnetic resonance restricted diffusion resolution correlates with clinical improvement and response to treatment in herpes simplex encephalitis. Neurocrit Care 3, 251–253 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1385/NCC:3:3:251

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/NCC:3:3:251

Key Words

Search

Navigation