Sonography of intracranial infection in infants and children

Abstract

Congenital and acquired infections of the central nervous system (CNS) pose a significant threat to the developing brain, even in the face of appropriate medical treatment. During the past five years, a number of reports have described the ultrasound features of intracranial infection, including echogenic sulci, extra-axial fluid collections, ventricular enlargement, calcifications, abnormal parenchymal echogenicity, abscess formation, cystic degeneration of the brain parenchyma, intraventricular echogenicity, ventricular septations and irregularity and prominence of the ventricular walls. These features permit ultrasound diagnosis of intracranial infection and help to guide decisions affecting patient management.

Focal areas of increased echogenicity within the brain.

“…Calcification ( Fig. 4) 15,16,17 Calcification secondary to infection had been widely reported long before ultrasound. The diagnosis of calcification by ultrasound was not appreciated until the real~ ization that these echogenic foci do not necessarily cause shadowing and do not change with time.…”

Neonatal cranial sonography: A concise review for clinicians

“…Neonatal CNS infections are diagnosed based on clinical presentation, and the role of sonography is to diagnose complications such as subdural fluid collections, ventriculitis [ Figure 14a ], cerebritis, abscess [Figure 14b and c ], infarction, and hydrocephalus. [ 15 ]…”

Candida brain abscess: a sonographic mimicker of intracranial hemorrhage

“…6 Prior sonographic reports of neonatal Candida abscess demonstrated parenchymal abnormalities seen first at 4 to 5 weeks:1. 7 Cerebritis appeared as poorly defined foci of parenchymal echogenicity, and granulomatous abscesses were manifested as multiple cortical hypoechoic areas.…”