MRI findings and diagnosis of brain echinococcus / 中华放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the characteristic findings of brain echinococcosis on MRI. Methods The MRI findings of 18 patients with pathologically confirmed brain echinococcosis were retrospectively reviewed.Results Among the patients.there were 9 cases of cystic echinococcosis and 9 cases of alveolar echinococcosis.In cystic echinococeosis,MRI revealed homogeneously hypointensity on T1WI and hyperintensity on T2WI,while it showed low signal intensity inside the cysts on FLAJR and DWI. In 6 cases of cystic echinococcosis, no edema was detected surrounding the lesions,while edema resulting from cyst rupture was found in 3 cases.The cystic walls were visible in 6 csses, obscure in 3 cases.The ruptured hydatid cysts in 3 cases showed slight ring enhancement.Alveolar echinococcosis appeared as multiple lesions with isointensity on T1WI and hypointensity on T2WI,surrounded by vasogenic edema.The "charcoal-like"hypointensity and innumerous hyperintense bubbles of 1-10 mm in diameter inside the lesions on T2-weighted MR images were characteristic for lesions of alveolar echinococcosis.The lesions revealed hypointensity on DWI and showed irregular ring enhancement after injection of Gd-DTPA. Perfusion-weighted MR imaging revealed low relative cerebral blood volume.Conclusion MRI can demonstrate lesions of brain echinococcosis accurately due to its advantages of multiorientation and multiparameter.It is clinically valuable.