[Pathology of inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system--an autopsy analysis 1967-1988]

This paper deals with investigations of CNS-inflammations based on 23,338 autopsies in the period from 1967 to 1988. Inflammatory CNS-findings were observed in 210 cases (0.9 per cent). Their etiology was caused bacterially in 66 per cent and viral infections were found in 20 per cent. Additionally multiple sclerosis appeared in 14 per cent of all CNS-inflammations. The meningitis dominated among the bacterial infections and the leukencephalitis and nekrotizing polioencephalitis of Herpes type among the viral inflammations. The histological classification of the nonbacterial inflammations was difficult or impossible in 9 per cent. A clinical diagnosis was established only in 70 per cent of all cases. Especially babies and patients at the age about 60 or 70 were involved.