Unusual Acute Encephalitis Involving the Thalamus: Imaging Features.
10.3348/kjr.2001.2.2.68
- Author:
Sam Soo KIM
;
Kee Hyun CHANG
;
Kyung Won KIM
;
Moon Hee HAN
;
Sung Ho PARK
;
Hyun Woo NAM
;
Kyu Ho CHOI
;
Woo Ho CHO
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Brain, CT;
Brain, infection;
Brain, MR;
Encephalitis;
Viruses
- MeSH:
Acute Disease;
Adult;
Encephalitis/cerebrospinal fluid/*pathology/*radiography;
Female;
Human;
*Magnetic Resonance Imaging;
Male;
Retrospective Studies;
Thalamus/*pathology/*radiography;
*Tomography, X-Ray Computed
- From:Korean Journal of Radiology
2001;2(2):68-74
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: To describe the brain CT and MR imaging findings of unusual acute encephalitis involving the thalamus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and CT and/or MR imaging findings of six patients with acute encephalitis involving the thalamus. CT (n=6) and MR imaging (n=6) were performed during the acute and/or convalescent stage of the illness. RESULTS: Brain CT showed brain swelling (n=2), low attenuation of both thalami (n=1) or normal findings (n=3). Initial MR imaging indicated that in all patients the thalamus was involved either bilaterally (n=5) or unilaterally (n=1). Lesions were also present in the midbrain (n=5), medial temporal lobe (n=4), pons (n=3), both hippocampi (n=3) the insular cortex (n=2), medulla (n=2), lateral temporal lobe cortex (n=1), both cingulate gyri (n=1), both basal ganglia (n=1), and the left hemispheric cortex (n=1). CONCLUSION: These CT or MR imaging findings of acute encephalitis of unknown etiology were similar to a combination of those of Japanese encephalitis and herpes simplex encephalitis. In order to document the specific causative agents which lead to the appearance of these imaging features, further investigation is required.
