title: Differential diagnosis between cerebral tuberculosis and neurocysticercosis by magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
abstract: Single enhancing brain lesions (SELs), mostly as a result of neurocysticercosis or tuberculosis, are a common cause of seizures. Ten patients with SELs caused by neurocysticercosis (n=6) or tuberculosis (n=4) were examined by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Tuberculomas had a high peak of lipids, more choline, and less N-acetylaspartate and creatine. The choline/creatine ratio was greater than 1 in all tuberculomas but in none of the cysticerci. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy differentiates SELs caused by cysticercosis or tuberculosis and may avoid brain biopsies or unnecessary antituberculosis treatments.
authors.affiliation: Cysticercosis Unit, Instituto Especializado en Ciencias Neurologicas, Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: E Javier
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Pretell
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martinot
authors.forename: Hector H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alvarado
authors.forename: Javier A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bustos
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martinot
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology*; D002794:Choline / Q000032:analysis; D003401:Creatine / Q000032:analysis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D020019:Neurocysticercosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D014375:Tuberculoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D020306:Tuberculosis, Central Nervous System / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid; C000179:N-acetylaspartate; D003401:Creatine; D002794:Choline