Parasitic diseases of the central nervous system.
This article reviews the characteristic imaging appearances of parasitic diseases of the central nervous system, including cysticercosis, toxoplasmosis, cystic echinococcosis, schistosomiasis, amebiasis, malariasis, sparganosis, paragonimiasis, and American and African trypanosomiases. Routine precontrast and postcontrast MR imaging helps in localization, characterization, delineation of extension, and follow-up of the parasitic lesions. Moreover, recently developed tools, such as diffusion, perfusion, and MR spectroscopy, help to differentiate parasitic diseases of the central nervous system from simulating lesions. Combining imaging findings with geographic prevalence, clinical history, and serologic tests is required for diagnosis of parasitic diseases of the central nervous system.
Diagnostic Radiology Department, Mansoura Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura, Egypt. arazek@mans.edu.eg
Ahmed Abdel Khalek
AA
Abdel Razek
Arvemas
A
Watcharakorn
Mauricio
M
Castillo
D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D020807:Central Nervous System Parasitic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D020808:Central Nervous System Protozoal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D016779:Malaria, Cerebral / Q000175:diagnosis; D020019:Neurocysticercosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D020818:Neuroschistosomiasis / Q000175:diagnosis; D010237:Paragonimiasis / Q000175:diagnosis; D013031:Sparganosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014120:Toxocariasis / Q000175:diagnosis; D016781:Toxoplasmosis, Cerebral / Q000175:diagnosis; D014235:Trichinellosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D014352:Trypanosomiasis / Q000175:diagnosis