Head CT > Infection > Meningitis

Meningitis

There are three subtypes of meningitis. Acute pyogenic meningitis is usually bacterial. Lymphocytic meningitis is usually viral, benign and self-limited. Chronic meningitis is often seen in immunocompromised hosts and may be fungal or parasitic. Imaging in suspected meningitis patients is performed to look for complications and assess safety of lumbar puncture. Imaging is not usually performed to diagnose meningitis because imaging studies are frequently normal despite the presence of the disease.

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