Use of thallium-201 brain SPECT to differentiate cerebral lymphoma from toxoplasma encephalitis in AIDS patients

AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 1994 Nov;15(10):1885-94.

Abstract

Purpose: To determine whether thallium-201 brain single-photon emission CT could be used to make the distinction between central nervous system lymphoma and toxoplasma encephalitis, which may not be possible by routine MR and CT.

Methods: A total of 37 patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome who had intracranial mass lesions found during a 9-month prospective study by either MR or CT underwent further evaluation with Tl-201 brain single-photon emission CT.

Results: Twelve patients had increased intense focal Tl-201 uptake. All of these patients had either biopsy- or autopsy-proven lymphoma. Twenty-five of the patients studied had no Tl-201 brain uptake in the lesion(s); 24 of these patients had toxoplasma encephalitis on clinical follow-up. One patient with no Tl-201 uptake was found by cerebrospinal fluid analysis to have mycobacterium tuberculosis abscess.

Conclusion: Patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome who have intracranial mass lesions on MR or CT may benefit from Tl-201 brain single-photon emission CT because it can help distinguish between lymphoma and infectious lesions such as toxoplasma encephalitis.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • AIDS Dementia Complex / diagnostic imaging*
  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / diagnostic imaging*
  • Adult
  • Brain Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Lymphoma, AIDS-Related / diagnostic imaging*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prospective Studies
  • Thallium Radioisotopes
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon / methods*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Toxoplasmosis, Cerebral / diagnostic imaging*

Substances

  • Thallium Radioisotopes