A 59-year-old woman presents with headache and mild fever of 3 days in duration. On physical examination, the patient appears confused and inattentive. On the following day, she is rushed to the...

A 59-year-old woman presents with headache and mild fever of 3 days in duration. On physical examination, the patient appears confused and inattentive. On the following day, she is rushed to the emergency room after suffering a generalized seizure. Lumbar puncture shows increased levels of CSF protein, but cultures are negative, and the white cell count is not elevated. PCR analysis of the CSF fluid shows evidence of herpes simplex type 1. This infection most likely involves which of the following anatomic regions of the patient’s brain?

(A) Basal ganglia

(B) Brainstem nuclei

(C) Cerebral hemispheres

(D) Subependymal areas of the cerebral hemispheres

(E) Temporal lobes