Herpes Simplex Encephalitis Differential Diagnoses

  • Author: Wayne E Anderson, DO; Chief Editor: Karen L Roos, MD   more...
 
Updated: Jun 17, 2011
 
 

Diagnostic Considerations

  • Myoclonus
  • Management of increased intracranial pressure (ICP) in the neuro intensive care unit (ICU)
  • Management of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) in the neuro ICU
  • Electroencephalography (EEG) in coma
  • Increased ICP
  • Neuro-Behçet disease

Differential Diagnoses

Proceed to Workup
 
 
Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Wayne E Anderson, DO  Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine/Neurology, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific Western University of Health Sciences; Clinical Faculty in Family Medicine, Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine; Clinical Instructor, Departments of Neurology and Pain Management, California Pacific Medical Center

Wayne E Anderson, DO is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Medical Association, American Society of Law, Medicine & Ethics, California Medical Association, and San Francisco Medical Society

Disclosure: Cephalon Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Pfizer Honoraria Speaking and teaching; King Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Forest Honoraria Speaking and teaching

Specialty Editor Board

Ramon Diaz-Arrastia, MD, PhD  Professor, Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Southwestern Medical School; Director, North Texas TBI Research Center, Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Parkland Memorial Hospital

Ramon Diaz-Arrastia, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Neurology, New York Academy of Sciences, and Phi Beta Kappa

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Selim R Benbadis, MD  Professor, Director of Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Tampa General Hospital, University of South Florida College of Medicine

Selim R Benbadis, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Academy of Sleep Medicine, American Clinical Neurophysiology Society, American Epilepsy Society, and American Medical Association

Disclosure: UCB Pharma Honoraria Speaking, consulting; Lundbeck Honoraria Speaking, consulting; Cyberonics Honoraria Speaking, consulting; Glaxo Smith Kline Honoraria Speaking, consulting; Pfizer Honoraria Speaking, consulting; Sleepmed/DigiTrace Honoraria Speaking, consulting

Chief Editor

Karen L Roos, MD  John and Nancy Nelson Professor of Neurology, Professor of Neurological Surgery, Department of Neurology, Indiana University School of Medicine

Karen L Roos, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology and American Neurological Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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Axial proton density-weighted image in 62-year-old woman with confusion and herpes encephalitis shows T2 hyperintensity involving right temporal lobe.
Axial gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted image reveals enhancement of right anterior temporal lobe and parahippocampal gyrus. At right anterior temporal tip is hypointense, crescentic region surrounded by enhancement consistent with small epidural abscess.
Axial diffusion-weighted image reveals restricted diffusion in left medial temporal lobe consistent with herpes encephalitis. This patient also had positive result on polymerase chain reaction assay for herpes simplex virus, which is both sensitive and specific. In addition, patient had periodic lateralized epileptiform discharges on electroencephalography, which supports diagnosis of herpes encephalitis.
 
 
 
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