MRI demonstrations of AIDS complicated by toxoplasma gondii infection in cervical spinal cord with 3 cases reports

Objective: To understand the imaging demonstrations of AIDS complicated by Toxoplasma gondii infection in cervical spinal cord. Methods: A total of 3 cases AIDS complicated by Toxoplasma gondii infection in cervical spinal cord was retrospectively analyzed for their imaging demonstrations. All received plain MRI scanning of cervical spine and its enhanced scanning. Additional examinations of MRI plain scanning of head and chest and their enhanced scanning were performed for 1 case. Toxoplasma gondii antibody detection found two cases with positive Toxoplasma gondii antibodies of both IgA and IgG, one case with negative Toxoplasma gondii antibodies of IgA but positive IgG. The post-therapeutic reexaminations found obviously shrunk foci in 2 cases, disappeared foci in the other. One case had multiple foci in different regions while the other 2 singular only found in cervical spinal cord. Results: By MRI plain scanning, the spinal cords were found thickened and swollen and the foci demonstrating low T1 and low T2 signals. In addition, the surrounding edema demonstrated long strip liked high T1 and high T2 signals. By enhanced MRI scanning, the foci demonstrated ring shaped, spiral shaped or target shaped enhancement. Conclusions: Cases of AIDS with intracerebral and/or intra-spinal multiple foci as well as findings of ring shaped, spiral shaped or nodular shaped enhancement by enhanced MRI scanning highly indicate the diagnosis of cerebral and/or spinal infections. Findings by MRI scanning are characteristic rather than specific. MRI is an effective way for the diagnosis of cerebral and/or spinal infection of toxoplasma gondii