title: Naeglaeria infection of the central nervous system, CT scan findings: a case series.
abstract: The imaging findings in four cases of a rare infection of the central nervous system caused by amoebae, Naeglaeria fowleri are presented. Naeglaeria fowleri are pathogenic free-living amoebae. They cause primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a rapidly fatal disease of the central nervous system. The computed tomography brain findings in 3 (75%) of our cases of pan amoebic meningoencephalitis showed non-specific brain oedema; 2 (66%) of these cases also had moderate hydrocephalus and among that 1 (50%) case showed an old lacunar infarction in peri-ventricular region. In the remaining 1 (25%) case the scan was normal with no evidence of oedema or abnormal lesion. Out of three cases with diffuse brain oedema, postcontrast images showed abnormal meningeal enhancement throughout the brain parenchyma in 1 (33%) case. However, no definite focal enhancing lesion was noted. In the rest of the cases, no abnormal parenchymal or meningeal enhancement was seen on post-contrast images.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Dow University of Health Sciences, 2Department of Radiology, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi. rohana.naqi@gmail.com
authors.forename: Rohana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Naqi
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Azeemuddin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000562:Amebiasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000469:parasitology*; D020808:Central Nervous System Protozoal Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000469:parasitology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016848:Naegleria fowleri; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed