title: An intracranial aspergilloma with low signal on T2-weighted images corresponding to iron accumulation.
abstract: We present a case of cerebral aspergillosis in an immunocompetent patient. The MRI signal characteristics were compared with the histologic findings. Irregular low-signal zones were demonstrated between the wall of the abscess and the central necrosis on T2-weighted images; the pathology specimen revealed concentrated iron in these transitional zones but no hemosiderin. Iron is an essential element for the growth of fungal hyphae. The low-signal zones may represent the areas where there was active proliferation of aspergillus, and the unique location of the low signal may be a helpful imaging characteristic for the diagnosis of an aspergillus abscess.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan. kyamada@koto.kpu-m.ac.jp
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Zoarski
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Rothman
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Zagardo
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D020314:Central Nervous System Fungal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D005005:Ethmoid Sinus / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D007501:Iron