Role of computed tomography in the management of infectious disease

All cases referred for computed tomography (CT) from a 48-bed infectious disease unit over a 3-year period were reviewed. Thirty patients were examined on 45 occasions with head and body cases approximately equal in number. Positive diagnoses were made in 38 examinations (84%), although this included 3 incidental findings. The most common indication for CT was exclusion of cerebral abscess presenting as meningitis (11 cases). The most common disease was tuberculosis (12 cases), although a wide spectrum of disease including four noninfective cases was encountered. CT made a direct contribution to the management of patients with meningitis, encephalitis, cerebral abscess, septicemia, hepatic abscess, tuberculosis, and lymphoma. Although CT was only utilized in a small proportion of patients admitted to this unit, the technique provided valuable information in the management of a number of problematic cases.