Role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Identifying the Different Imaging Patterns of Viral Encephalitis

Abstract

Encephalitis is critical life threatening acute infection of brain parenchyma. There has been a significant decrease in morbidity and mortality in patients with intracranial infection with the advent of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) which helps in treatment plan and follow up for complications. The purpose of this study was to describe the role of MRI in the evaluation of parenchymal changes in patients clinically suspected for brain infection. Material and methods: All the patients clinically suspected with brain infection were referred for MRI study of brain with or without contrast to the department of Radio diagnosis, LG hospital during the period of March 2016-June 2018 were evaluated to detect changes of encephalitis. The data was analyzed and Epi info version 7 was used for statistical calculations. Result: Total 29 patients were taken in our study. Patients from all age group were included in the study, in which 10 were females and 19 were male. Rasmussen encephalitis in three and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) was diagnosed in four patients. Chickungunya, dengue and epstein Barr virus (EBV) was diagnosed in one patient each. Four patients had Japanese encephalitis and two patients had meningo encephalitis. Six patients had hemorrhagic areas with in the lesions. The findings of MRI were compared with the clinical presentation and follow up was obtained in some patients after treatment. Conclusion: MRI was found to be superior in visualization of the brain parenchymal involvement and its associated findings. MRI is helpful to reach the diagnosis of etiological factor, but laboratory investigation is helpful for confirmatory diagnosis.