Moon S. T2/FLAIR hyperintensity in the mesial temporal lobe: challenging differential diagnosis.
Curr Med Imaging 2021;
18:285-291. [PMID:
34931987 DOI:
10.2174/1573405617666210712130555]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 05/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
T2/FLAIR hyperintensity in the mesial temporal lobe is the most common MR finding of herpes simplex encephalitis but may be observed in other infectious and non-infectious diseases. The former includes herpes human virus 6 encephalitis, Japanese encephalitis, and neurosyphilis, and the latter autoimmune encephalitis, gliomatosis cerebri, bilateral or paradoxical posterior cerebral artery infarction, status epilepticus, and hippocampal sclerosis. Thus, T2/FLAIR hyperintensity in the mesial temporal lobe is not a disease-specific magnetic resonance imaging finding, and these conditions must be differentiated to ensure proper treatment. We review diseases that are presented with T2/FLAIR hyperintensity in the mesial temporal lobe and provide a helpful flow chart based on clinical and radiologic features.
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