Neuroimaging clinics of North America
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Radiology provides valuable gross pathologic information about central nervous system (CNS) infections. Major categories of infectious lesions of the brain and spinal cord are recognized by imaging such as diffuse, focal, or multifocal. ⋯ It illustrates examples with gross and microscopic photographs of CNS infections, and the tissue reactions to these infections. Where the organism can spread within the CNS, and cellular responses to the organism underlie both the radiographic and pathologic findings.
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Central nervous system infections account for 1% of primary hospital admissions and 2% of nosocomial infections and when encountered require prompt diagnosis and initiation of specific treatment. Imaging findings are mostly nonspecific with respect to the causative pathogen. This article describes the anatomy of cranial meninges and extra-axial spaces of the brain. Characteristic findings and recent advances in neuroimaging of meningitis and its complications and ventriculitis are summarized, and certain noninfectious causes of meningitis and meningitis mimics are described.
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Neuroimaging Clin. N. Am. · Nov 2012
ReviewNeurosurgical aspects of central nervous system infections.
Infections of the central nervous system (CNS) can be severe, disabling, and potentially fatal. Infections of the central nervous system (CNS) can be severe, disabling, and potentially fatal. Appropriate recognition of symptoms facilitates expeditious evaluation, prompt diagnosis, and timely treatment. ⋯ This review explores the presentation, pathogenesis, evaluation, and treatment of the most common infections of the CNS. Discussion of treatment options also includes possible neurosurgical interventions. The infections considered are cerebral abscess, subdural empyema, meningitis, encephalitis, toxoplasmosis, neurocysticercosis, diskitis, and spinal epidural abscess.
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Neuroimaging Clin. N. Am. · Aug 2012
Review Comparative StudyCombating overutilization: radiology benefits managers versus order entry decision support.
Radiology benefits managers (RBMs) and computerized decision support offer different advantages and disadvantages in the efforts to provide appropriate use of radiology resources. RBMs are effective in their hard-stop ability to reject inappropriate studies, incur a significant cost, and interpose an intermediary between patient and physician. Decision support is a more friendly educational product, but has not been implemented for all clinical indications and its efficacy is still being studied.
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A conflict of interest occurs when an outside interest influences professional decisions regarding patient care, education, or research. It is important to recognize conflicts of interest and to report significant financial interests to the appropriate institutional official. When a significant financial interest conflicts with human subjects research, the investigator is typically prohibited from participating in the research. If the conflict does not affect human subjects research, in some instances a conflict of interest management plan can be developed that allows continued participation in the research.