Efficacy of gadolinium in MR brain imaging of HIV-infected patients.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the value of gadolinium in routine head MR imaging of HIV-infected patients.


METHODS
One hundred and three consecutive human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients referred for head MR imaging were scanned without and with intravenous gadopentetate dimeglumine (Gd-DTPA) contrast.


RESULTS
The precontrast scans of 82 patients were either normal, or had atrophy or diffuse white matter changes only. Sixteen of these 82 demonstrated enhancing abnormalities: eight meningeal/ependymal enhancement and eight focal enhancing lesions. Twenty-one of the 103 scans had focal or mass lesions on the precontrast images; in eight of these scans, new information was obtained with Gd-DTPA. Of the 24 patients in both groups where new information was obtained with Gd-DTPA, the information contributed to a change in the clinical care of nine patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Gadolinium-enhanced MR is useful in the management of selected patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection, for example those with symptoms suggesting meningeal involvement, focal brain lesions, or if the unenhanced MR does not explain all the patient's symptoms.
Tuite
M
M
Department of Radiology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Strong Memorial Hospital, NY 14642.
Ketonen
L
L
Kieburtz
K
K
Handy
B
B
D015526:AIDS Dementia Complex / Q000175:diagnosis; D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D000328:Adult; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid
D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA