Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 22, 2026

Intracerebroventricular and Intravascular Injection of Viral Particles and Fluorescent Microbeads into the Neonatal Brain
05:51

Intracerebroventricular and Intravascular Injection of Viral Particles and Fluorescent Microbeads into the Neonatal Brain

Published on: July 24, 2016

19.1K

Childhood encephalitis: relationship between diffusion abnormalities and clinical outcome

Alex M Wong1, Jainn-Jim Lin, Cheng-Hong Toh

  • 1Department of Medical Imaging and Intervention, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Keelong, Linkou Medical Center and Chang Gung University, 5 Fu-Hsing Street, Kwei-Shan, Tao Yuan, Taiwan, Republic of China, alexmcwchop@yahoo.com.

Neuroradiology
|October 9, 2014
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Children with encephalitis and lesions with restricted diffusion (LRD) face worse clinical outcomes. Greater LRD extent correlates with poorer outcomes, highlighting diffusion restriction as a key prognostic factor.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Neuroradiology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • The prognostic significance of restricted diffusion in childhood encephalitis remains understudied.
  • This study investigates the association between lesions with restricted diffusion (LRD) and clinical outcomes in pediatric encephalitis patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if LRD in childhood encephalitis predicts worse clinical outcomes.
  • To evaluate the correlation between the extent of MRI abnormalities and patient outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of MRI studies in 83 children diagnosed with encephalitis.
  • Development of an MRI scoring system (0-12) using FLAIR imaging to quantify abnormality extent.
  • Assessment of clinical outcomes using the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) at 1 and 12 months post-diagnosis.
  • Statistical analysis including correlation and multivariate logistic regression to identify predictors of outcome.

Main Results:

  • Lesions with restricted diffusion (LRD) were identified in 28 patients.
  • A significant negative correlation was observed between MRI imaging scores and GOS at both 1 and 12 months in patients with LRD.
  • Multivariate analysis confirmed LRD and patient age as independent risk factors for unfavorable outcomes at 1 month.
  • LRD and imaging score were significant risk factors for unfavorable outcomes at 12 months.

Conclusions:

  • Children with encephalitis exhibiting LRD experience poorer clinical outcomes compared to those without.
  • The extent of imaging abnormalities in LRD cases is directly associated with worse patient prognoses.

More Related Videos

Advanced Diffusion Imaging in The Hippocampus of Rats with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury10:33

Advanced Diffusion Imaging in The Hippocampus of Rats with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Published on: August 14, 2019

8.2K
Visualizing Impairment of the Endothelial and Glial Barriers of the Neurovascular Unit during Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis In Vivo10:50

Visualizing Impairment of the Endothelial and Glial Barriers of the Neurovascular Unit during Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis In Vivo

Published on: March 26, 2019

7.4K

Related Concept Videos

Encephalitis l: Introduction01:19

Encephalitis l: Introduction

Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain parenchyma, most often due to infections or autoimmune processes. It presents with neuropsychiatric features such as fever, altered mental status, behavioral changes, cognitive dysfunction, seizures, focal deficits, and sometimes autonomic instability. In some cases, the meninges are also involved, resulting in meningoencephalitis.Infectious CausesInfectious encephalitis is most commonly viral but can also result from bacterial, fungal, or parasitic...
7
Encephalitis ll: Pathophysiology01:26

Encephalitis ll: Pathophysiology

Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain parenchyma caused by direct viral invasion or immune-mediated mechanisms triggered by infections or tumors. Both processes lead to neuronal injury, disrupted neurotransmission, and diverse neurological symptoms, often with overlapping clinical and pathological features.Autoimmune EncephalitisIn autoimmune encephalitis, antibodies target neuronal antigens on cell surfaces, synapses, or within neurons. A key example is anti-NMDAR encephalitis, which can...
11
Arboviral Encephalitis01:25

Arboviral Encephalitis

Arboviral encephalitis refers to brain inflammation caused by arthropod-borne viruses, particularly those transmitted through mosquito vectors. Among these, West Nile virus (WNV), a member of the Flaviviridae family, is a significant public health concern. WNV is an enveloped, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus. Human infection typically begins when an infected mosquito introduces the virus into the dermis during feeding. The primary transmission cycle involves birds as amplifying hosts...
52
Cerebral Edema ll: Pathophysiology01:22

Cerebral Edema ll: Pathophysiology

Vasogenic edema is a major form of cerebral edema characterized by abnormal accumulation of fluid in the brain’s extracellular space due to disruption of the blood–brain barrier (BBB). The BBB is a specialized structure composed of endothelial cells connected by tight junctions, supported by astrocytic endfeet and a basement membrane. Under normal conditions, it tightly regulates the movement of ions, proteins, and solutes between the bloodstream and brain parenchyma. When this...
4
Brain Abscess l: Introduction01:26

Brain Abscess l: Introduction

A brain abscess is a focal, intracerebral infection characterized by a localized collection of pus within the brain parenchyma, resulting from microbial invasion and the body’s inflammatory response. It progresses through stages: early and late cerebritis, followed by early and late capsule formation, reflecting tissue destruction, immune response, and eventual encapsulation.Etiology and PathogenesisCausative organisms vary with source and host factors, often involving polymicrobial...
7
Viral Meningitis01:18

Viral Meningitis

Viral meningitis is the most common form of meningitis and is often referred to as aseptic meningitis to indicate the absence of bacterial involvement. It is generally milder than bacterial meningitis, with symptoms including fever, headache, stiff neck, drowsiness, nausea, photophobia, and vomiting. Rarely, more severe manifestations or death may occur. Common causative agents include enteroviruses, particularly coxsackie A and B viruses and echoviruses, all members of the Enterovirus genus...
179