title: Fungal infections of the central nervous system.
abstract: Fungal infections of the central nervous system (CNS) frequently occur in the immunocompromised or debilitated host. Imaging findings are non-specific but may be organized into extra-axial, parenchymal, and vascular categories. Furthermore, knowledge of fungal morphology may predict the imaging manifestations with large, hyphal species having a predilection for brain parenchymal involvement, while small, unicellular organisms typically result in meningitis. Advanced imaging techniques such as diffusion-weighted imaging, MR perfusion and MR spectroscopy, when combined with clinical findings, may help in differentiating fungal disease from other mimckers such as pyogenic infection or cystic metastases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Yale University Medical Center, New Haven, CT 06510, USA. mahan.mathur@gmail.com
authors.forename: Mahan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mathur
authors.forename: Carl E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Gordon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sze
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D001922:Brain Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary; D020314:Central Nervous System Fungal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D016921:Meningitis, Fungal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed