title: Neuroimaging as a guide to predict outcomes for patients with coccidioidal meningitis.
abstract: Sixty-two patients with coccidioidal meningitis underwent neuroimaging. Magnetic resonance imaging detected neuroimaging abnormalities in 76% of patients, and computed tomography scanning detected neuroimaging abnormalities in 41.6%. The most common abnormal neuroimaging findings were hydrocephalus (51.6%), basilar meningitis (46.8%), and cerebral infarction (38.7%). Significantly elevated mortality rates were associated with hydrocephalus and hydrocephalus coexisting with infarction. Basilar meningitis did not influence outcome. Patients without neuroimaging abnormalities had a mortality rate of 7.7%.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Kern Medical Center, University of California School of Medicine, Bakersfield, CA, USA. Edward.Arsura@med.va.gov
authors.forename: Edward L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Arsura
authors.forename: Royce
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Penrose
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kilgore
authors.forename: Chakradhar M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.forename: Ravi K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Bobba
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality; D003045:Coccidioides; D003047:Coccidioidomycosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D016921:Meningitis, Fungal / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D011379:Prognosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*