title: Neuromelioidosis: a series of seven cases in Hainan province, China.
abstract: Melioidosis, which is caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, is predominately a disease of tropical climates and is especially widespread in south-east Asia and northern Australia. Melioidosis affecting the central nervous system has a low incidence but a high mortality. We present seven cases of neuromelioidosis and analyze the disease characteristics and imaging features. Typical clinical features of this disease included high fever and headache. Five patients had an irregular fever with a temperature ≥ 39℃. Peripheral blood leukocytes and the neutrophil ratio were raised in all patients. On computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging the disease mainly manifested as intracerebral single or multiple nodules, as well as ring and flake-like enhancements with rapid lesion progression. This study demonstrated the importance of imaging examination in the clinical evaluation and diagnosis of neuromelioidosis.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiology, Haikou Municipal People's Hospital, Hainan, China.
authors.forename: Yuefu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhan
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Anaesthesiology, Hainan Provincial People's Hospital, Hainan, China.
authors.forename: Yehua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: 3 Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Hainan, China.
authors.forename: Qun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiology, Haikou Municipal People's Hospital, Hainan, China.
authors.forename: Anle
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001922:Brain Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016957:Burkholderia pseudomallei / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D002648:Child; D002681:China; D005334:Fever / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D006261:Headache / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008554:Melioidosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: Burkholderia; Neuromelioidosis; brain abscess; diagnosis; imaging