Viral encephalitis CT

Template:Encephalitis Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editors-In-Chief: Priyamvada Singh, MBBS [2]

Overview

Encephalitis is an acute inflammation of the brain, commonly caused by a viral infection. CT scan should be performed in all patient with suspected encephalitis. It helps in excluding ass lesion, bleeding and infarction that could be the possible cause for the encephalopathic state. It should always be performed before lumber puncture in case manifestations suggestive of increased intra-cranial pressure is there.

CT

• CT scan should be done in all patients with encephalitis.
• It should be performed before lumber puncture if there are signs and symptoms suggestive of elevated intracranial tension (focal neurological involvement) is there, for instance obstructive hydrocephalus, or mass effect.
• It helps in excluding brain hemorrhage or infarction as a cause of an encephalopathy. Bleeding is uncommon except in patients with herpes simplex type 1 encephalitis.
• It may present as areas of edema, petechial hemorrhage or nodular or ring enhancing lesion (toxoplasmosis)