Document Detail


CT and MR characteristics of cerebral sparganosis.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  17885230     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Sparganosis is a rare parasitic infection in humans by a larval cestode of the genus Spirometra. Preoperative diagnosis of cerebral sparganosis in the past has been very difficult. Our objective was to evaluate the CT and MR features of cerebral sparganosis in order to make a definite diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 25 patients (13 male and 12 female; age range, 9-83 years) who proved to have cerebral sparganosis. Fifteen patients underwent MR imaging: 2 patients had CT scanning, and the remaining 8 had both CT and MR scanning. We focused on evaluating the imaging features on CT and MR. RESULTS: All patients showed edema and degeneration of cerebral white matter. All but 1 had a unilateral lesion. Twenty-two patients had ipsilateral ventricular dilation. The new finding was a tunnel sign, approximately 4 cm in length and 0.8 cm in width, column or fusiform shaped on postcontrast coronal and sagittal MR images (n = 10). Thirteen patients showed bead-like enhancement, but solitary ring enhancement was common on the CT images (n = 2). The wall of the ring and tunnel appeared isointense or slightly hyperintense on T2-weighted images. Punctate calcifications were seen in 6 patients on CT images but only in 3 patients on the MR images. Hemorrhage was seen in 4 patients on the MR images. An intact whitish, stringlike, living worm was found (n = 5). CONCLUSION: The most characteristic finding was a tunnel sign on postcontrast MR images. The most common finding was bead-shaped enhancement. MR is superior to CT in demonstrating the extent and number of lesions, except punctate calcifications. Combined with clinical data and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the preoperative diagnosis of cerebral sparganosis could be established on MR imaging.
Authors:
T Song; W-S Wang; B-R Zhou; W-W Mai; Z-Z Li; H-C Guo; F Zhou
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article     Date:  2007-09-20
Journal Detail:
Title:  AJNR. American journal of neuroradiology     Volume:  28     ISSN:  0195-6108     ISO Abbreviation:  AJNR Am J Neuroradiol     Publication Date:  2007 Oct 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2007-10-09     Completed Date:  2007-11-26     Revised Date:  2008-02-14    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8003708     Medline TA:  AJNR Am J Neuroradiol     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  1700-5     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Radiology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical College, Guangdong, China. gzflair@163.com
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Brain / pathology*,  radiography*
Central Nervous System Helminthiasis / pathology*,  radiography*
Child
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Sparganosis / pathology*,  radiography*

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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