[From the microscopic to the macroscopic : the diagnostic power of images in infectious diseases].

An image is often worth a thousand words in the field of infectious diseases. Whether it is a cutaneous lesion of a syphilitic gumma, a brainstem abscess on CT-scan, or a stained culture, it can quickly guide the diagnosis. It is also the foundation of the "clinical sense". Here, we report five emblematic cases in which the combination of clinical, radiological, and microbiological images allowed the formulation of the most probable diagnosis and its management plan at a glance. These observations illustrate the importance of clinical experience in improving diagnostic accuracy and accelerating therapeutic decisions.