Brain magnetic resonance imaging in imported malaria

Malaria Journal

Andreas M. Frölich¹  Jens Fiehler¹  Michael Schönfeld¹  Pinkus Tober-Lau²  Florian Kurth²  Christof D. Vinnemeier³  Thierry Rolling³  Marylyn M. Addo³  Thomas T. Brehm³ 

[1] Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf;Department of Infectious Diseases and Pulmonary Medicine, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health;Divisions of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, I. Department of Internal Medicine, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf;

关键词: Malaria;    Imported malaria;    Cerebral malaria;    MRI;    P. falciparum;    Complicated malaria;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12936-019-2713-2

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Background Previous studies have documented a spectrum of brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities in patients with cerebral malaria, but little is known about the prevalence of such abnormalities in patients with non-cerebral malaria. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of brain MRI findings in returning travellers with non-cerebral malaria. Methods A total of 17 inpatients with microscopically confirmed Plasmodium falciparum non-cerebral malaria underwent structural brain MRI at 3.0 Tesla, including susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI). Presence of imaging findings was recorded and correlated with clinical findings and parasitaemia. Results Structural brain abnormalities included a hyperintense lesion of the splenium on T2-weighted imaging (n = 3) accompanied by visible diffusion restriction (n = 2). Isolated brain microhaemorrhage was detected in 3 patients. T2-hyperintense signal abnormalities of the white matter ranged from absent to diffuse (n = 10 had 0–5 lesions, n = 5 had 5–20 lesions and 2 patients had more than 50 lesions). Imaging findings were not associated with parasitaemia or HRP2 levels. Conclusion Brain MRI reveals a considerable frequency of T2-hyperintense splenial lesions in returning travellers with non-cerebral malaria, which appears to be independent of parasitaemia.

【 授权许可】

Unknown