Case 7: Clinical DDx

Clinical History

HPI: 43 year old male presents with fevers and seizures.

Questions

1. What is your clinical differential diagnosis?

Since the patient is presenting with fevers with neurologic symptoms (seizures), CNS infection is suspected. Infection of the CNS has several different manifestations including meningitis, encephalitis, and cerebritis with abscess. Underlying etiologies also vary including viral, bacterial and fungal disease. CNS infection may occur as a direct extension from adjacent sinusitis or mastoiditis or may spread hematogenously.

2. What is the role of imaging in this patient?

Answer