Congenital infections (mnemonic)
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Gaillard F, Weerakkody Y, Bell D, et al. Congenital infections (mnemonic). Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 21 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-5667
rID:
5667
Article created:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Frank Gaillard had no recorded disclosures.
View Frank Gaillard's current disclosures
Last revised:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Yuranga Weerakkody had no recorded disclosures.
View Yuranga Weerakkody's current disclosures
Revisions:
10 times, by
9 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Synonyms:
- Congenital TORCH infections
- TORCH
- S-TORCH infections
- TORCH infection
- STORCH infections
The group of the most common congenital infections are referred to by the mnemonic TORCH or STORCH. They usually cause mild maternal morbidity but are related to serious fetal consequences 4.
In cases where no serological, microbiological or immunological evidence of infection can be identified the term pseudo-TORCH has been used 5.
Mnemonic
- T: toxoplasmosis
- O: other (e.g. syphilis, varicella-zoster, parvovirus B19)
- R: rubella
- C: cytomegalovirus (CMV) - most common
- H: herpes simplex virus (HSV)
There is a variation of this mnemonic that includes in utero syphilis infection:
- S: syphilis
- T: toxoplasmosis
- O: other (e.g. varicella-zoster, parvovirus B19)
- R: rubella
- C: cytomegalovirus (CMV) - most common
- H: herpes simplex virus (HSV)
Quiz questions
References
- 1. O'Brien W, O'brien WT, Sr. Top 3 Differentials in Radiology, A Case Review. Thieme Medical Pub. (2009) ISBN:1604062266. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 2. Kinney JS, Kumar ML. Should we expand the TORCH complex? A description of clinical and diagnostic aspects of selected old and new agents. Clin Perinatol. 1988;15 (4): 727-44. - Pubmed citation
- 3. Blickman JG, Parker BR, Barnes PD. Pediatric radiology, the requisites. Mosby Inc. (2009) ISBN:0323031250. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 4. Stegmann BJ, Carey JC. TORCH Infections. Toxoplasmosis, Other (syphilis, varicella-zoster, parvovirus B19), Rubella, Cytomegalovirus (CMV), and Herpes infections. Curr Womens Health Rep. 2002;2 (4): 253-8. Pubmed citation
- 5. Patnaik A, Mishra SS, Das S. Extensive intracranial calcification of pseudo-TORCH syndrome with features of Dandy-Walker malformation. (2017) Asian journal of neurosurgery. 12 (3): 541-543. doi:10.4103/1793-5482.145162 - Pubmed
Incoming Links
Articles:
- Symmetrical intrauterine growth restriction
- Echogenic fetal bowel
- Amniocentesis
- Lucent transverse metaphyseal lines (mnemonic)
- Basal ganglia calcification
- Microcephaly with a simplified gyral pattern
- Congenital rubella syndrome
- Dense transverse metaphyseal lines (mnemonic)
- Placental thickness
- Medical abbreviations and acronyms (T)
- Polymicrogyria
- Obstetric curriculum
- Brain stone
- In utero infection
- Pseudo-TORCH syndrome
- Subependymal cyst
- Hydrops fetalis
- Multiple intracranial calcifications
- Aicardi-Goutières syndrome
- Sturge-Weber syndrome
Cases:
- Microcephaly - congenital cytomegalovirus infection
- Congenital cytomegalovirus infection
- Tuberous sclerosis
- Congenital cytomegalovirus infection
- Congenital cytomegalovirus infection
- Microcephaly, brain malformation and extensive intracranial calcification
- Congenital CMV infection
- Tuberous sclerosis
- TORCH infection
- Fetal intrahepatic calcification
- Congenital cytomegalovirus infection
- Hydrops fetalis
- Congenital CMV infection
- Congenital cytomegalovirus infection
- Tuberous sclerosis
- Congenital cytomegalovirus
Multiple choice questions:
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