HIV AIDS MRI

Sexually transmitted diseases Main Page
AIDS Microchapters
Home
Patient Information
Overview
Historical Perspective
Classification
Pathophysiology
Causes
Differentiating AIDS from other Diseases
Epidemiology and Demographics
Risk Factors
Screening
Natural History, Complications and Prognosis
HIV Opportunistic Infections
HIV Coinfections
HIV and Pregnancy
HIV Infection in Infants
Diagnosis
Diagnostic Study of Choice
AIDS Case Definition
History and Symptoms
Physical Examination
Laboratory Findings
Electrocardiogram
X-ray
Echocardiography and Ultrasound
CT scan
MRI
Other Imaging Findings
Other Diagnostic Studies
Treatment
Medical Therapy
Nutrition
Drug Resistance
Surgery
Primary Prevention
Secondary Prevention
Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy
Future or Investigational Therapies HIV Vaccine
Case Studies
Case #1
HIV AIDS MRI On the Web
Most recent articles
Most cited articles
Review articles
CME Programs
Powerpoint slides
Images
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of HIV AIDS MRI All Images X-rays Echo & Ultrasound CT Images MRI
Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse
NICE Guidance
FDA on HIV AIDS MRI
CDC on HIV AIDS MRI
HIV AIDS MRI in the news
Blogs on HIV AIDS MRI
Directions to Hospitals Treating AIDS
Risk calculators and risk factors for HIV AIDS MRI

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [4]; Associate Editors-in-Chief: Ujjwal Rastogi, MBBS; Ammu Susheela, M.D. [5]

Overview

Magnetic resonance imaging is the neuroimaging modality of choice for the work-up of HIV-positive patients with suspected CNS disease. MRI can aid in the diagnosis of primary CNs lymphoma, AIDS dementia complex, and cerebral toxoplasmosis. AIDS-Dementia complex is characterized by diffuse cerebral atrophy, enlargement of the cerebral ventricles, and diffuse white matter hypoattenuation. Cerebral toxoplasmosis demonstrates ring enhancing lesions with surrounding edema that mayy closely resemble primary CNS lymphoma.

MRI

Advantages of MRI over CT in AIDS diagnosis

• Much more sensitive than CT scan in determining if a lesion is truly solitary.
• Greater sensitivity for white matter disease.
• Greater sensitivity for lesions in the posterior fossa.
• Helps in identifying a peripheral lesion which is more accessible for histological sampling, in case a biopsy is being considered.

Image courtesy of Dr Roberto Schubert, Radiopedia. (original file [1] Creative Commons BY-SA-NC

Toxoplasmosis

• Lesions may appear hyperintense or isointense depending on the type of infection.
• In necrotising encephalitis due to Toxoplasma, the MRI findings will be hyperintense.
• If the lesion is an abscess, the MRI will show isointense characteristics.
• Most of the time the lesions are surrounded by edema
• If contrast is used, the MRI will show the characteristic ring enhancement lesions.

Image courtesy of Dr Frank Gaillard, Radiopedia. (original file [2] Creative Commons BY-SA-NC

Image courtesy of Dr Frank Gaillard, Radiopedia. (original file [3] Creative Commons BY-SA-NC