The role of radionuclide brain imaging and computerized tomography in the early diagnosis of herpes simplex encephalitis.
We have reviewed the medical records and radiographic examinations of 12 patients with herpes simplex encephalitis to assess the role of RN and CT in the early diagnosis of this disease. The initial RN study was positive in 83% (10/12) of cases while the initial CT study was positive in 75% (9/12) of cases. The earliest positive RN was seen on the second day after the onset of neurologic signs or symptoms while the earliest positive CT was seen on the third day. We describe various abnormal patterns encountered in HSE and discuss their diagnostic reliability. We make recommendations for the diagnosis of HSE based on our findings and on the information available in the literature
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed