ABSTRACT
Objective To study CT and MRI features and classification of brain schistosomiasis granuloma. Methods CT and MRI data of 30 cases of brain schistosomiasis granuloma were reviewed.All cases were proved by the surgery or pathological examination and clinical laboratory test.There were 20 males and 10 females, and their age ranged from 5 to 58 years, mean 29.2 years.Plain and enhanced CT were performed in all patients with GE MAX 640 scanner.Ten patients were examined by plain and enhanced MRI with GE Signa profile 0.2 Tesla open scanner.Results The lesions located in supratentorial region in 27 cases and in infratentorial region in 3cases.The nodules were isodense or slight hyperdense on CT plain scan, iso or hypointense on T_1WI, hyperintense on T_2WI, Slight hyperintense on FLAIR.After the contrast material was injected intravenously, CT and MRI findings were multiple or single enhanced nodules at the cortical or subcortical area.There were four types of imaging features: (1) multiple small nodules in 5 cases (presenting as bright stars in the dark sky); (2) single large nodule in 8 cases; (3) mixed nodules in 14 cases; (4) circle-enhanced nodules in 3 cases.Conclusion The brain schistosomiasis granuloma has typical CT and MRI findings.CT and MRI classification is not only helpful to its diagnosis and differential diagnosis, but also might be useful for the choice of clinical treatment.