title: Application of stereotactic biopsy for diagnosing intracranial lesions in patients with AIDS in China: Report of 7 cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the study was to evaluate stereotactic biopsy for diagnosing intracranial lesions in patients with AIDS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven AIDS patients with an intracranial lesion who underwent stereotactic biopsy were included in this retrospective study (4 males and 3 females, 15 to 49 years old). The patients' disease history ranged from 1 month to 1 year. The samples were examined by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and immunohistochemical examination.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients were successfully sampled, and the histological results showed inflammation in 4 cases, toxoplasma gondii infection in 1 case, astrocytoma in 1 case, and abscess in 1 case. The clinical diagnosis included toxoplasma encephalitis (TE) in 2 cases, cryptococcus encephalitis in 2 cases, cytomegalovirus (CMV) encephalitis in 2 case, tubercular abscess in 1 case, astrocytoma in 1 case, and co-infection of TE with Cryptococcus infection in 1 patient. The clinical diagnosis was made according to the plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) laboratory testing, the imaging data and the histological findings. The diagnostic yield was 100%, and the post-operation morbidity was 14.3% (1/7) with an asymptomatic haemorrhage and seizure in 1 case. There was no operation-related mortality. Patients were followed up for 6 months to 6 years; 1 case fully recovered, 4 cases significantly improved in symptoms, and 2 died.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Stereotactic biopsy is a safe and effective way of diagnosing intracranial lesions in patient with AIDS. It is helpful for the differential diagnosis and for choosing a suitable therapy. Due to the broad spectrum of nervous system abnormalities in AIDS, histological findings are very valuable. However, histology is not a unique tool for making a definite diagnosis, whereas the combination of molecular pathology and stereotactic biopsy should play a more important role in the future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery Department of Infectious Disease Department of Pathology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Ji-Bo
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Xue-Meng
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Li-Dao
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yong-Xi
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Gui-Fang
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001706:Biopsy; D003454:Cryptococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000302:isolation & purification; D055815:Young Adult