Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Brain Infections in Cameroon

Abstract

Background: Brain infections are serious conditions that can lead to neurological complications and functional sequelae. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a diagnostic tool of choice for brain infections, as it allows to visualize the lesions with high spatial resolution and good tissue sensitivity. In Cameroon, data on brain infections are scarce and fragmented. Objective: To determine the frequency and characteristics of brain infections in patients who underwent brain MRI in three hospitals in Cameroon. To compare the MRI diagnosis with the biological diagnosis when available. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional and descriptive study in three hospitals in Cameroon equipped with an operational MRI: the General Hospital of Douala, the Regional Military Hospital of Yaoundé and the Cathedral Medical Center of Yaoundé. Our study population consisted of patients of any age and sex who underwent brain MRI with the indication of a suspected or confirmed brain infection. We collected epidemiological and clinical data of the patients, as well as the results of brain MRI and biological tests. We calculated sums, frequencies and distributions. Results: Out of 351 patients who underwent brain MRI, 43 had a brain infection on MRI. The frequency of brain infections in our series can therefore be estimated at 12.25% of brain MRIs performed. The most affected age group by brain infections in our series was 41 to 50 years old with 13 cases, or 30.2%. Men accounted for 53.49% of patients, with a sex ratio of 1.15/1 in favor of men. Most of our patients lived in the city of Yaoundé (46.51%) and were of urban origin (79.07%). The main indications were altered state of consciousness (14%) followed by altered general condition (11.6%), subacute encephalitis (11.6%) and cerebellar syndrome (9.3%). Out of 43 cases of brain infections, 21 cases were HIV positive, or 48.84%. The most common brain infection was cerebral toxoplasmosis with 10 cases, or 23.3%. The most common ...