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Intracerebroventricular and Intravascular Injection of Viral Particles and Fluorescent Microbeads into the Neonatal Brain
Published on: July 24, 2016
Serial diffusion-weighted imaging of neonatal herpes encephalitis: a case report
Tetsuo Kubota1, Miharu Ito, Koichi Maruyama
1Department of Pediatrics, Anjo Kosei Hospital, Aichi, Japan. t-kubota@kosei.anjo.aichi.jp
Brain & Development
|September 19, 2006
Summary
Early diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) can detect subtle lesions in neonatal herpes simplex encephalitis. This technique reveals scattered high intensities, aiding in prompt diagnosis of this serious brain infection.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pediatrics
- Radiology
Background:
- Neonatal herpes simplex encephalitis is a severe condition requiring early diagnosis.
- Conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may not detect early signs of the infection.
Observation:
- Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) was performed repeatedly on a patient with neonatal herpes simplex encephalitis.
- Initial DWI at 20 hours post-seizure onset showed scattered small, spotty high-intensity lesions in both hemispheres and a left fronto-temporal lesion.
- Follow-up DWI at 72 hours revealed expanded lesions and a new lesion in the right temporal lobe.
Findings:
- The observed scattered high-intensity lesions on DWI are not previously reported in neonatal herpes simplex encephalitis.
- These findings suggest potential endothelial cell infection, leading to swelling and small vessel necrosis.
- Early DWI findings may differ from conventional MRI in neonatal herpes simplex encephalitis.
Implications:
- Early DWI is crucial for the timely detection and diagnosis of neonatal herpes simplex encephalitis.
- The characteristic DWI findings may indicate specific pathological processes, such as vasculitis.
- This imaging approach could improve patient outcomes through earlier therapeutic interventions.
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