Pyogenic ventriculitis
Infectious diseases
General description
Pyogenic ventriculitis is an inflammation of the ventricles of the brain caused by a bacterial infection. This condition can be quite severe, potentially leading to serious neurological complications.
Pyogenic ventriculitis is often associated with:
- Foreign bodies such as intraventricular catheters, which are used for the drainage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or for direct delivery of medications into the CSF.
- Rupture of brain abscesses into the ventricular system, which can introduce bacteria directly into the ventricles.
- Meningitis, particularly bacterial meningitis, can spread to the ventricles leading to ventriculitis.
Symptoms of pyogenic ventriculitis can be quite severe and may include:
- Severe headache
- Fever
- Nausea and vomiting
- Neurological deficits like confusion, drowsiness, or coma
- Stiff neck or other signs of meningismus (symptoms of meningitis)
- Seizures
Fluid level
Non-SOL
-
VentricleLateral ventricle
DWI and ADC display diffusion restriction in the ventricles, typically in the trigone or the posterior horn of the lateral ventricle, attributable to gravitation. Accumulated abscess material can form a fluid level.
Ependymal contrast effect
Non-SOL
-
VentricleEpendyma
Corpus callosum lesion
Non-SOL
-
Corpus callosumSplenium
DWI occasionally shows symmetric hyperintensity at splenium of corpus callosum (see also Mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion (MERS)).
White matter hyperintensity
Non-SOL
-
CerebrumParietal lobeCerebral white matterPeriventricular white matter