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Imaging Findings in Pyogenic Ventriculitis

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Abstract

Introduction

Pyogenic ventriculitis is an uncommon but often severe intracranial infection.

Methods

Case report with illustrative CT and MRI imaging.

Results

A 49-year-old man presented with an intraparenchymal hematoma with extension of blood into the ventricles. The persistence of intraventricular blood necessitated long term placement of an external ventricular drain. On day 23 after admission, a contrast-enhanced CT scan of the brain showed slight hydrocephalus, irregular debris in the dependent part of the occipital horns and periventricular hypodensities. An MRI scan confirmed the characteristic hallmarks of pyogenic ventriculitis on the T2-weighted, Fluid Attenuated Inversion Recovery (FLAIR), and diffusion-weighted and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images.

Conclusion

Neuroimaging is crucial in clearly depicting pyogenic ventriculitis. A contrast-enhanced CT scan, but especially MR imaging, is an ideal tool to reliably diagnose this life-threatening cerebral infection.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of (neurological) Critical Care Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, University of Antwerp, Wilrijkstraat 10, B-2650, Edegem, Belgium

    Philippe G. Jorens & Dominique Robert

  2. Department of Radiology, Antwerp University Hospital, University of Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium

    Maurits H. Voormolen & Paul M. Parizel

Authors
  1. Philippe G. Jorens
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  2. Maurits H. Voormolen
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  3. Dominique Robert
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  4. Paul M. Parizel
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Philippe G. Jorens.

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Jorens, P.G., Voormolen, M.H., Robert, D. et al. Imaging Findings in Pyogenic Ventriculitis. Neurocrit Care 11, 403–405 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12028-009-9263-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12028-009-9263-3

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