Advanced Diagnostic Testing for CNS Infections
Description
In this presentation, Dr. Thakur will provide a comprehensive, state-of-the-art overview of advanced diagnostic approaches for CNS infections.
Advanced Cerebrospinal Fluid Testing for Challenging CNS Diagnoses
Date: October 18, 2026
Time: 11:45 am to 12:45 pm
Room: Coral 5
Track: Interactive Lunch Workshop (ILW)
Session Description
Timely and accurate diagnosis of complex central nervous system (CNS) disorders remains a major challenge in clinical neurology. Neurotropic infections, autoimmune encephalitides, and CNS neoplasms often present with overlapping features, where delays in diagnosis can lead to inappropriate treatment and irreversible neurologic injury. Advances in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diagnostics—including metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS), immune biomarkers, and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) assays—are transforming diagnostic approaches and clinical management.
This interactive lunch session will bring together experts in neuroinfectious disease, neuroimmunology, and neuro-oncology to present case-based discussions and practical frameworks for integrating advanced CSF diagnostics into clinical care. Emphasis will be placed on appropriate test selection, interpretation, and real-world application to improve diagnostic accuracy and patient outcomes.
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to:
- Identify emerging advanced CSF diagnostic tools across neuroinfectious disease, neuroimmunology, and neuro-oncology.
- Evaluate the clinical utility of advanced CSF testing in diagnostically challenging cases.
- Apply advanced CSF diagnostics to the evaluation and management of complex CNS disorders.
Speakers
- (Chair) Dan Tong Jia, MD
- (Co-Chair) Karan Dixit, MD
- (Speaker) Kiran Thakur, MD, FAAN, FANA
- (Speaker) Michael Wilson, MD, MAS, FANA
- (Speaker) Seema Nagpal, MD
Case-based Lessons from Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing
Description
In this presentation, Dr. Wilson will present how unbiased assays like metagenomic next-generation sequencing can detect unexpected neurological infections in patients with meningoencephalitis.
The 'Next-Generation' of CSF Diagnostics for CNS Malignancies
Description
In this presentation, Dr. Nagpal will have a interactive discussion on the use cases and pitfalls of new CSF testing technology in primary and metastatic cancers.