Differential diagnosis of structural brain lesions revealed by mri among patients with aids (review article)

Abstract

The current article is an up-to-date literature review of common brain lesions and their MRI semiotics among patients with AIDS. We present classic MRI signs of AIDS-associated lesions and the variability of presentation based on the method of magnetic resonance. We provide a detailed review of MRI imaging of lesions with mass-effect: toxoplasmosis, primary CNS lymphoma and neurotuberculosis. In this review, we present wide variability of radiological signs and typical patterns that are used for differential diagnosis between these conditions. In this article, we also review HIV associated brain lesions without mass effect as PML and HIV associated encephalopathy. We highlighted unique polymorphism of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy as this pathology might have variable contrast enhancement and can be present with or without the mass effect. We present data about the comparison of MRI and CT imaging in diagnosing of HIV-associated brain lesion. Assuming differences in MRI protocols in different hospitals here we describe minimal brain MRI protocol that allows obtaining optima radiological studies.