Neuroimaging as a guide to predict outcomes for patients with coccidioidal meningitis.

Arsura, Edward L; Johnson, Royce; Penrose, James; Stewart, Kenneth; Kilgore, William; Reddy, Chakradhar M; Bobba, Ravi K · Clin Infect Dis · 2005

case_control · Level III

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Abstract

Sixty-two patients with coccidioidal meningitis underwent neuroimaging. Magnetic resonance imaging detected neuroimaging abnormalities in 76% of patients, and computed tomography scanning detected neuroimaging abnormalities in 41.6%. The most common abnormal neuroimaging findings were hydrocephalus (51.6%), basilar meningitis (46.8%), and cerebral infarction (38.7%). Significantly elevated mortality rates were associated with hydrocephalus and hydrocephalus coexisting with infarction. Basilar meningitis did not influence outcome. Patients without neuroimaging abnormalities had a mortality rate of 7.7%.

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