Optic Neuritis
Optic neuritis is an inflammatory optic neuropathy that may be idiopathic or associated with underlying demyelinating disease. The typical presentation is one of subacute vision loss and dyschromatopsia (impairment of…
Lyme Disease Involving the Nervous System (Neuroborreliosis)
Lyme disease is caused by an infection with the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi transmitted via tick bites ( Ixodes ricinus in Europe and Ixodes scapularis in the United States). Primary infection…
Neurosyphilis
Syphilis, caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum , is able to invade the central nervous system early in the course of infection. As many as 40% of patients will have…
Tuberculosis Affecting the Nervous System
Neurologic manifestations of infection with tuberculosis (TB) are diverse and can be challenging to diagnose given the limitations of available diagnostic tests. Suspicion for TB should be heightened in patients…
Subacute and Chronic Meningitis
Patients with subacute or chronic meningitis typically have fluctuating but slowly progressive symptoms of fever, headache, neck pain or stiffness, vomiting, and/or cognitive changes over four or more weeks. Meningitis…
Encephalitis
Encephalitis refers to a constellation of syndromes that present with brain inflammation and rapidly progressive neurologic symptoms. Although traditionally recognized as being caused by infection, a growing number of autoimmune…
Acute Meningitis
Acute meningitis is a neurological emergency. Clinical evaluation alone cannot accurately determine the cause of meningitis; lumbar puncture (LP) is essential and should be performed without delay. Empiric treatment should…
Paraneoplastic Syndromes
Paraneoplastic neurologic syndromes are characterized by an immune response targeting the central or peripheral nervous system in the presence of an underlying malignancy. This autoimmune response is usually associated with…
Meningioma
Meningiomas are the most common primary central nervous system tumor. These extraaxial tumors can arise from the dura at any site along the neuroaxis, although are most frequently found at…
