title: Improved detection of parenchymal cysticercal lesions in neurocysticercosis with T2*-weighted angiography magnetic resonance imaging.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an important tool for the diagnosis and management of various central nervous system infections. In the present study, we investigated the role of T2*-weighted angiography (SWAN) imaging in the diagnosis of neurocysticercosis (NCC) viz-a-viz conventional MRI.
  
  
  METHODS
  Symptomatic (n = 46) and asymptomatic (n = 88) cases from a pig-farming community were imaged using both conventional and SWAN MRI between July 2009 and May 2011. Two experienced neuroradiologists independently reviewed all the images to characterize the lesions as well as detection of the scolex.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 250 lesions were detected in 70 individuals. On conventional MRI, the lesion and scolex visibility was 82.4% (206/250) and 60% (150/250), respectively, which increased to 96.8% and 81%, respectively, using SWAN imaging. On combining SWAN with conventional MRI, the scolex visibility increased to 85% (213/250) of the total 250 lesions detected. Overall, adding SWAN to conventional MRI increased the lesion detection and scolex visibility up to 18% (206 vs. 250) and 30% (150 vs. 213), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SWAN imaging when added to the conventional MRI protocol for population screening for NCC in endemic regions improves both lesion detection and definitive diagnosis of neurocysticercosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India.
authors.forename: Avantika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.forename: Rishi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Awasthi
authors.forename: Kashi N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Prasad
authors.forename: Neetu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Soni
authors.forename: Kamini
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Vimal K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Paliwal
authors.forename: Hira
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lal
authors.forename: Chandra M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Pandey
authors.forename: Rakesh K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Gupta
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020019:Neurocysticercosis / Q000473:pathology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult