The role of imaging studies in CNS infections.

Recent advances in nervous system imaging techniques have greatly improved the diagnosis and treatment of central nervous system infections. Nowadays, the most useful imaging modalities are harmless to the patient and widely available. Whereas Analysis of CSF, biopsy, and laboratory analysis remain the gold standard to identify the infectious agent for instance in meningitis, neuroimaging is crucial in clearly depicting inflammatory lesions of brain and spine. Notably, in opportunistic disease neuroimaging has a pivotal role not only in diagnosis but also in monitoring therapeutic response. The present review discusses imaging characteristics of bacterial, viral, fungal and prion infections of the central nervous system.