title: Chronic Meningitis: Simplifying a Diagnostic Challenge.
abstract: Chronic meningitis can be a diagnostic dilemma for even the most experienced clinician. Many times, the differential diagnosis is broad and encompasses autoimmune, neoplastic, and infectious etiologies. This review will focus on a general approach to chronic meningitis to simplify the diagnostic challenges many clinicians face. The article will also review the most common etiologies of chronic meningitis in some detail including clinical presentation, diagnostic testing, treatment, and outcomes. By using a case-based approach, we will focus on the key elements of clinical presentation and laboratory analysis that will yield the most rapid and accurate diagnosis in these complicated cases.
authors.affiliation: Geisinger Health System, 100 N Academy Ave, Danville, PA, 17822, USA. kjbaldwin@geisinger.edu.
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Baldwin
authors.affiliation: Geisinger Health System, 100 N Academy Ave, Danville, PA, 17822, USA. cjwhiting@geisinger.edu.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Whiting
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008581:Meningitis / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Candida albicans; Chronic meningitis; Cryptococcus; Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis; Meningitis; Tuberculosis