Typical and Atypical Imaging Features of West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease: A Timely Review
West Nile virus is the most common arbovirus in the continental United States and one of the most common throughout the world. Less than 1% of West Nile virus infections result in West Nile neuroinvasive disease. Patients characteristically present with meningitis, encephalitis, or
acute flaccid myelitis, but they may have a variable clinical course and corresponding imaging manifestations. The radiologist plays an important role in making this often-elusive diagnosis. Understanding the imaging features of typical and atypical West Nile neuroinvasive disease is crucial
to making a timely diagnosis, which can help prevent additional, potentially harmful testing or treatment. In this review, the authors summarize their experience with West Nile neuroinvasive disease imaging during a surge of cases at their institution.
Learning Objective: To identify the typical and atypical imaging appearances of West Nile virus neuroinvasive disease, to understand the differential diagnosis when a patient presents with typical imaging features of West Nile virus infection, and to recognize the environmental factors responsible for seasonal variations in West Nile virus infections
Learning Objective: To identify the typical and atypical imaging appearances of West Nile virus neuroinvasive disease, to understand the differential diagnosis when a patient presents with typical imaging features of West Nile virus infection, and to recognize the environmental factors responsible for seasonal variations in West Nile virus infections
Keywords: AFM = acute flaccid myelitis; AFP = acute flaccid paralysis; WNND = West Nile neuroinvasive disease; WNV = West Nile virus
Document Type: Research Article
Publication date: October 1, 2023
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