Fungal Infections of the Central Nervous System
Keyword(s):
System P
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Fungal infections of the central nervous system are important because of their increasing incidence and the growing population of at-risk individuals. CNS spread is usually hematogenous but rarely can be due to direct invasion from adjacent structures. Morphology of the infecting fungus may predict the regions affected and the lesion phenotype. Meningitis and mass lesions are the most frequent. This chapter reviews the current understanding of the neuropathogenesis of fungal infections with mention of histopathological and imaging correlations. Important aspects of management are also discussed. Diagnosis requires strong clinical suspicion. Treatment is often multimodal with prolonged drug therapy, surgery, and supportive care.