Computed tomography (CT) in children with herpes simplex encephalitis.

Computed Tomography (CT) scans were obtained from nine infants with herpes simplex virus encephalitis (HSE). The early CT findings were generalized or localized edematous change and a mass effect was also seen in two cases. In the follow-up study two patients showed bilateral gyriform calcification, a rare occurrence in association with intracranial infection. The appearance of multicystic encephalomalacia was evident in one patient 3 months after the onset of disease. It is shown that the CT findings of neonates and young children with HSE are different from those of adults.