"In addition to secondary communicating hydrocephalus, MRI may reveal non-specific leptomeningeal enhancement on post-gadolinium images 1. However, this enhancement does not occur in any specific distribution making it therefore indistinguishable from bacterial leptomeningitis, and is also uncommonly reported 1."
"Neurocandidiasis results from disseminated infection of the central nervous system by the fungus Candida albicans, usually manifesting as cerebral microabscesses and meningitis."
"Neurocandidiasis most commonly results from disseminated haematogenous infection of Candida albicans, but can rarely also be due to other Candida spp. such as Candida parapsilosis (Pichia parapsilosis 11), Candida tropicalis, and Candida glabrata (Nakaseomyces glabrata 10) 3. In addition to haematogenous spread to the CNS, Candida may also be introduced to the CNS during craniotomy or through the presence of a CNS shunt 3."
"Once in the CNS, and due to their small size, Candida has a predilection for the microcirculation, classically resulting in multiple cerebral microabscesses and leptomeningitis 4. However, Candida can also uncommonly cause the development of mycotic aneurysms resulting in intracerebral haemorrhage or subarachnoid haemorrhage, thrombosis in small perforating arterioles resulting in ischaemic stroke, cerebral macroabscesses, and cerebral vasculitis 1,2."
"Microabscesses are the hallmark radiographic feature of neurocandidiasis 1,2. They are less than 3 mm in size, multiple, and most commonly located at the gray-white matter junction, basal ganglia, and/or cerebellum 1,5-9. These microabscesses have MR signal characteristics that are identical to other brain abscesses, those being classic ring-enhancing lesions with striking high signal intensity on DWI 1,5-9. Small haemorrhagic components are also commonly observed, which may demonstrate low signal intensity on T2-weighted images and may be better appreciated on GRE or SWI images 1,2,5."
Expected headings
"Microabscesses"
"Leptomeningitis"
"Other features"