Signal abnormality within the thalami and posterior midbrain with discrete foci of contrast enhancement as described, accounting for symptoms of sensorineural deafness. Differential includes encephalitis (both infective and inflammatory - viral and atypical organisms such as CMV, listeria, toxoplasmosis should be considered) as well as neoplastic processes such as lymphoma (less likely glioma).

CSF sampling revealed toxoplasmosis, which is an opportunistic infection caused by parasite Toxoplasma gondii.

Neurotoxoplasmosis has its lesions occurring generally in the basal ganglia, corticomedullary junction, thalamus, and cerebellum.​