CNS infections pose significant diagnostic challenges due to their diverse clinical presentations and overlapping imaging features. Conventional MRI often provides structural details but lacks specificity in distinguishing infectious from non-infectious or neoplastic pathologies. This diagnostic ambiguity can lead to delayed or inappropriate treatment. 

Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL) is a non-invasive MRI perfusion imaging technique that quantifies cerebral blood flow (CBF) without using contrast agents. By capturing perfusion dynamics, ASL offers unique insights into the pathophysiology of CNS infections, aiding in their timely and accurate diagnosis [1, 2]. 

This exhibit aims to highlight the transformative role of ASL in CNS infection diagnostics through case-based evidence and a systematic review of its applications.