Spirochete Infections: Neurosyphilis Definition Infection of brain, meninges, or spinal cord by Treponema pallidum. Required: (a) syndrome consistent with neurosyphilis (meningitis, meningoencephalitis, meningomyelitis, cerebral infarcts, dementia paralytica, tabes dorsalis, congenital…
Neurosarcoidosis Granulomatous multisystem disease of unknown cause, sometimes involving CNS, peripheral nerves, or muscle. Epidemiology Prevalence 3–50 per 100,000 population worldwide. More frequent in African Americans than others in United…
Fungal and Yeast Infections CNS fungal infection: meningitis, meningoencephalitis, abscess, granuloma, arterial thrombosis. Subacute meningitis, meningoencephalitis most common. Lungs, skin, hair usually primary sites. Pathogenic fungal infections (occur in normal…
Viral Infections After viral multiplication in extraneural tissues, dissemination to CNS occurs by hematogenous route or spread along nerve fibers. General Comments CNS Viral Syndromes Meningitis: headache, photophobia, stiff neck;…
Focal Infections Malignant External Otitis Infection in external auditory canal; spreads to soft tissues to cause cellulitis and abscess. Risk factors: diabetes in almost all patients; also advanced age, HIV…
Bacterial Infections and Aseptic Meningitis Acute Purulent Meningitis Progression for hours. Polymorphonuclear pleocytosis usually present in CSF. General Considerations Routes of meningeal infection: (a) blood (septicemia or spread from distant…
DNA Diagnosis Several hundred diseases amenable to DNA diagnosis. List is rapidly expanding. Examples provided in chapters on specific inherited conditions. For further information: http://www.genetests.org serves as an online textbook…
Neuropsychological Evaluation Tests designed to assess cognition, behavior. Helpful in diagnosing and characterizing dementia. Characteristic patterns of performance support diagnosis of some specific conditions. Factors that may affect test performance:…
Muscle and Nerve Biopsy Helps in differentiating neurogenic and myopathic causes of limb weakness as well as specific causes of myopathy, peripheral neuropathy. Indications: syndromes of limb weakness with cause…
