Includes References

Infectious and immunological diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) are often complex. It is obligatory to require knowledge of pathology, anatomy, and physiology, as well as
virology, parasitology, and immunology, to make a final diagnosis with confidence. Infections
of the CNS frequently involve immunocompromised patients. Neuroimmunological diseases
such as multiple sclerosis account for about 10% of all neurological diseases. Advanced MR
techniques such as diffusion-weighted imaging, perfusion imaging, susceptibility-weighted
imaging, as well as MR spectroscopy provide adjunct evidence on differentiating between
infectious, immunological diseases of CNS and other entities, such as neoplastic, metabolic, or
ischemic diseases. On the other hand, the cross study of imaging with autopsy and pathology
will provide valuable and scientific evidence on the understanding and research of neuroinfections and neuroimmunology. How to resolve a couple of diagnostic problems in comprehensive textbook is still a huge challenge to the clinicians and neuroradiologists. This specific
textbook serves as a practical approach toward imaging diagnosis in neuroinfections and
neuroimmunology.
This book primarily illustrates the neuroimaging characteristics and theory of CNS infections and neuroimmunology, serving as a practical pocketbook and clinical guidance for the
understanding, prevention, and diagnosis of these entities. The book was divided into 3 consecutive parts and 19 chapters according to their different subjects. The first part briefly introduces advanced imaging modalities including multi-detector CT, high-field MRI, PET, and
brain biopsy techniques, as well as diagnostic algorithm based on imaging patterns. The second part addresses in details variable CNS infections such as viral, bacterial, mycoplasmal,
parasitic, and opportunistic, as well as some specific topics: cerebrovascular complications of
infection, infections of spinal cord, and childhood infections. The third part covers multiple
sclerosis and other demyelinating diseases, granulomatous diseases, autoimmune encephalitis,
inflammatory diseases of the meninges, and inflammatory and autoimmune disorders of the
spinal cord.
The personalized structure of the particular chapters would help the contributor find the
way to solve the complexity of the diseases and help the reader understand the coherence of
clinical, epidemiological, pathological, and radiological features of infectious and immunological diseases. The authors of each chapter have provided thorough and illustrative reviews
of these emerging and controversial topics, and we are indebted to them for their hard work
and expertise. The materials included in the book were collected from lots of native hospitals
and were well organized with excellent organization. We sincerely appreciate all the experts
who contribute to this book, although there are some overlap among the different chapters and
topics, which are undoubtedly benefits to better understand some specific entities from different standpoints. Our hope is that this will serve as a reference textbook that will benefit a
spectrum of readers, from medical students, radiology residents, and neuroradiology fellows to
the junior and senior neuroradiologists, as well as readers in neurology, neurosurgery, and
associated disciplines.
I would like to appreciate my academic mentors, Prof. Xue-jian Wang, Prof. Bin Zhao, and
Prof. Gao-jun Teng, who had woken my interest on radiology and had led me to pursue this
career. As friends and companions, Prof. Chi S. Zee and Prof. Meng Law inspired me not only during composing this book but also during my visiting fellowship study in Keck Medical
Center, University of Southern California. Further, I also thank the project coordinators, Mr.
James Hu, Mr. Vignesh Iyyadurai Suresh and Ms. Shanjini Rajasekaran from Springer PG,
who patiently assisted me during collecting and editing the manuscript and advised me
patiently regarding the structure and details of this book. Last but not least, I sincerely thank
my parents, my wife, and my daughter, for giving me ample space and time to be myself for
creating and editing this book.
The contributors and I would be grateful to the enthusiastic readers who are giving constructive criticism of this book. We would like to be kept informed if anything would need
polishing in the next edition in the future.