title: Viral diseases of the central nervous system.
abstract: Viral diseases of the central nervous system encompass a wide range of different processes, mainly inflammation affecting the brain (encephalitis), the meninges (meningitis), or a combined meningoencephalitis. The spinal cord can be affected as well (myelitis). Another group of viral-related disorders, sometimes without a clear pathophysiological mechanism disclosed, include post-viral illnesses. All of these groups of diseases are discussed in this article, with an emphasis on their imaging presentation, using magnetic resonance imaging.
authors.affiliation: University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil. claudia.leite@hcnet.usp.br
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Leite
authors.forename: Alcino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.forename: Leandro T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Lucato
mesh_terms: D002494:Central Nervous System Infections / Q000821:virology*; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008587:Meningitis, Viral / Q000175:diagnosis; D009187:Myelitis / Q000821:virology