Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Computed tomography in young children with herpes simplex virus encephalitis

  • Originals
  • Published:
Pediatric Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Computed tomographic (CT) scans were obtained from eight infants and young children with herpes simplex virus encephalitis. In two cases the initial scan showed diffuse edematous changes as a mass effect without laterality. Unilateral localized low attenuation in the initial scan was evident 4 days after the onset in one patient, and high attenuation in the initial scan appeared on the 6th day in another patient, but in general, it was not possible to establish an early diagnosis of herpes simplex virus encephalitis from CT scan. In the longitudinal study the calcification with ventriculomegaly appeared in 3 of 5 survivors, and gyriform calcification in 2 of 3 patients, respectively. The appearance of multicystic encephalomalacia was evident in one patient 6 months after the onset of neonatal herpes simplex encephalitis. It is shown that the CT findings of neonates and young children with herpes simplex encephalitis are different from those of older children and adults, and the importance of longitudinal CT studies was stressed in clarifying the pathophysiology of the central nervous system involvement in survivors.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Reference

  1. Griffith JF, Ch'ien LT (1983) Herpes simplex encephalitis. Diagnostic and treatment consideration. Med Clin North Am 67: 991

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Whitley RJ, Soong S-J, Linneman C, Liu C, Pazin G, Alford CA, NIAID collaborative antiviral study group (1982) Herpes simplex encephalitis. Clinical assessment. JAMA 247: 317

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Davis JM, Davis KR, Kleinman GM, Krichner HS, Taveras JM (1978) Computed tomography of herpes simplex encephalitis, with clinicopathological correlation. Radiology 129: 407

    Google Scholar 

  4. Enzmann DR, Ranson B, Norman D, Talberth E (1978) Computed tomography of herpes simplex encephalitis. Radiology 129: 419

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Zimmerman RD, Russell EJ, Leeds NE, Kaufman D (1980) CT in the early diagnosis of herpes simplex encephalitis. AJR 134: 61

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Dutt MK, Johnston IDA (1982) Computed tomography and EEG in herpes simplex encephalitis. Their value in diagnosis and prognosis. Arch Neurol 39: 99

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Brodtkorb E, LindQvist M, Jonsson M, Gustafsson A (1982) Diagnosis of herpes simplex encephalitis. A comparison between electroencephalography and computed tomography findings. Acta Neurol Scand 66: 462

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Mizrahi EM, Tharp BR (1982) A characteristic EEG pattern in neonatal herpes simplex encephalitis. Neurology 32: 1215

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Schauseil-Zipf U, Harden A, Hoare RD, Lyen KR, Lingam S, Marshall WC, Pampiglione G (1982) Early diagnosis of herpes simplex encephalitis in childhood. Clinical, neurophysiological and neuroradiological studies. Eur J Pediatr 138: 154

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Sugimoto T, Sakane Y, Kobayashi Y (1985) Early diagnosis of herpes simplex virus encephalitis in childhood by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Acta Neurol Scand (in press)

  11. Kim EE, Deland FH, Montebello J (1979) Sensitivity of radionuclide brain scan and computed tomography in early detection of viral meningoencephalitis. Radiology 132: 425

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Ketonen L, Koskiniemi M-L (1983) Gyriform calcification after herpes simplex virus encephalitis. J Comput Assist Tomogr 7: 1070

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Eyster EF, Margolis MT (1971) Progressive cortical calcification in a newborn. Neuroradiology 2: 115

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Dubois PJ, Heinz ER, Wessel HB, Zaias BW (1979) Multiple cystic encephalomalacia of infancy: Computed tomographic findings in two cases with associated intracerebral calcification. J Comput Tomogr 3: 97

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Chutorian AM, Michener RC, Defendini R, Hilal SK, Gamboa ET (1979) Neonatal polycystic encephalomalacia. Four new cases and review of the literature. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 42: 154

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Callahan WP, Russell WO, Smith MG (1946) Human toxoplasmosis. Medicine 25: 343

    Google Scholar 

  17. Stevenson LD, McGowan LE (1942) Encephalomalacia with cavity formation in infants. Arch Pathol 34: 286

    Google Scholar 

  18. Mirra JM (1971) Aortitis and malacoplakia-like lesions of the brain in association with neonatal herpes simplex. Am J Clin Pathol 56: 104

    Google Scholar 

  19. Bastian FO, Rabson AS, Yee CL, Tralka TS (1972) Herpes virus hominis: Isolation from human trigeminal ganglion. Science 178: 306

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Kansai Medical University, Fumizonocho 1, Moriguchi-shi, 570, Osaka, Japan

    T. Sugimoto, M. Woo, H. Okazaki, N. Nishida, T. Hara, A. Yasuhara, M. Kasahara & Y. Kobayashi

Authors
  1. T. Sugimoto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Woo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. H. Okazaki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. N. Nishida
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. T. Hara
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. A. Yasuhara
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. M. Kasahara
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Y. Kobayashi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sugimoto, T., Woo, M., Okazaki, H. et al. Computed tomography in young children with herpes simplex virus encephalitis. Pediatr Radiol 15, 372–376 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02388351

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02388351

Keywords

Search

Navigation