Imaging findings in musculoskeletal complications of AIDS.
Patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) are susceptible to a variety of complications that can affect the musculoskeletal system. These complications can be infectious, inflammatory, or neoplastic or can take some other form. Infection (cellulitis, necrotizing fasciitis, soft-tissue abscess, pyomyositis, osteomyelitis, septic arthritis) is the most common complication. Inflammatory processes include various arthritides as well as polymyositis. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma and Kaposi sarcoma are the two most common neoplasms in this patient population. Miscellaneous disorders include osteonecrosis, osteoporosis, rhabdomyolysis, anemia-related abnormal bone marrow, and hypertrophic osteoarthropathy. The underlying mechanisms leading to these diseases are complex and not fully understood but are thought to be multifactorial. Radiology may play an important role in early diagnosis and treatment planning in this population, in whom clinical and laboratory findings are commonly equivocal and nonspecific. Although biopsy is often necessary for the final diagnosis, it is important for the radiologist to be familiar with the different types of musculoskeletal disease in HIV-positive and AIDS patients so that an appropriate differential diagnosis can be established.
Restrepo
C Santiago
CS
Department of Radiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, 1542 Tulane Ave, Rm 212, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA. crestr@lsuhsc.edu
Lemos
Diego F
DF
Gordillo
Hernan
H
Odero
Richard
R
Varghese
Thomas
T
Tiemann
William
W
Rivas
Francisco F
FF
Moncada
Rogelio
R
Gimenez
Carlos R
CR
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D000328:Adult; D001168:Arthritis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D001850:Bone Diseases, Infectious / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016483:Lymphoma, AIDS-Related / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D017285:Polymyositis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D011859:Radiography; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D018461:Soft Tissue Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology