Background;
@EN Herpes simplex encephalitis is a rare complication of herpetic infection and the course in untreated patients is usually one of rapid deterioration over several days that progresses to coma and death. The only confirmative method of diagnosis
is
brain biopsy. Because prompt treatment with acyclovir can be lifesaving, early diagnosis of Herpes simplex encephalitis is essential. Many physicians prefer other methods to brain biopsy due to some complication.
@ES Methods:
@EN We studied brain MRI(magnetic resonance imaging) as a noninvasive and early diagnostic method in eight cases of clinically suspected herpes simplex encephalitis restrospectively
@ES Results:
@EN Clinical symptoms are fever, headache, impaired orientation to time, person, and place, altered mental status with rapid with rapid progression to confusion and disorientation. Laboratory examination showed CSF pleocytosis especially of
lymphocytes.
MRI of eight patients (especially T2-weighted images) demonstrated widespread high signals in the unilateral or bilateral temporal lobes, which is not always depicted in brain CT. Among eight patients seven improved with early administration of
acyclovir, however, one patient died even though 10 days of acyclovir.
@ES Conclusion:
@EN Brain MRI is thought to be a noninvasive diagnositc method with superiority of detecting early temporal lobe lesions consistent with herpes simplex encephalitis.
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