Approach to an Intracranial Mass in Patients With HIV

AbstractPurpose of ReviewSpace-occupying lesions represent a diagnostic challenge among people with the human immunodeficiency virus, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). To determine the best diagnostic approach to the wide array of possible etiologies and provide a thorough interpretation of neuroimaging in order to narrow a hierarchical differential diagnosis among these patients. Given that there is no pathognomonic neuroimaging pattern in this clinical setting, we searched results from brain biopsies to best determine the etiology of commonly found lesions.Recent FindingsMultimodal brain MRI and MRI spectroscopy (MRS) often provide the most valuable information in the study of focal masses among people with HIV/AIDS. Brain biopsy appears safe and provides high diagnostic yields in these patients.SummaryAmong patients with HIV/AIDS who present with space-occupying intracranial lesions, brain MRI and MRS are useful tests. However, in cases of diagnostic uncertainty, brain biopsy is a safe procedure and should be performed. The role of metabolic studies like201Th-SPECT or PET is useful in the detection of primary central nervous system lymphoma.
Source: Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports - Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research