Neuroimaging findings of Zika virus infection: a review article

Mohammad Zare Mehrjardi, Elham Keshavarz, Andrea Poretti, Adriano N. Hazin

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

36 Scopus citations

Abstract

Zika virus (ZIKV) is an arbovirus from the Flaviviridae family. It is usually transmitted by mosquito bite. There have been no reports of severe symptoms caused by ZIKV infection up until the last few years. In October 2013 an outbreak was reported in French Polynesia with severe neurological complications in some affected cases. In November 2015, the Ministry of Health of Brazil attributed the increased number of neonatal microcephaly cases in northeastern Brazil to congenital ZIKV infection. The rapid spread of the virus convinced the World Health Organization to announce ZIKV infection as a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern” in February 2016. The main neuroimaging findings in congenital ZIKV infection include microcephaly which is the hallmark of the disease, other malformations of cortical development (e.g., lissencephaly, heterotopia, etc.), parenchymal calcifications, unilateral or bilateral ventriculomegaly, enlarged extra-axial CSF spaces, dysgenesis of the corpus callosum, agenesis of the cavum septum pellucidum, cerebellar and brainstem hypoplasia, and ocular abnormalities. ZIKV infection may also cause Guillain-Barré syndrome and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis in adults. Familiarity with neuroimaging findings of congenital and acquired ZIKV infection is crucial to suspect this disease in residents of endemic regions and travelers to these areas.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)765-770
Number of pages6
JournalJapanese journal of radiology
Volume34
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2016

Keywords

  • Computed tomography (CT)
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
  • Neuroimaging
  • Ultrasound
  • Zika virus (ZIKV)

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

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