The role of CT in the evaluation of patients with intracranial CNS infectious-inflammatory disorders.

Infections of the CNS may be caused by diverse etiologies. These include bacteria, viruses, mycoses, protozoa, helminths. In these CNS infections there is a breakdown in the blood-brain barrier. The most common clinical forms of intracranial CNS infections include meningitis, cerebritis-abscess formation, and dural infections. These conditions may be complicated by infarction, hydrocephalus, brain atrophy unless the CNS infection in detected early. The introduction of CT has markedly enhanced our ability to diagnose early and initiate therapy rapidly. In most disorders early diagnosis has caused a dramatic decrease in mortality and morbidity. Since the introduction of CT, clinical outcome in patients with cerebritis-brain abscess has markedly changed. In this paper the role of CT in the evaluation of intracranial CNS infection will be reviewed.