Korean J Radiol.  2009 Jun;10(3):310-312. 10.3348/kjr.2009.10.3.310.

MRI of Neurosyphilis Presenting as Mesiotemporal Abnormalities: a Case Report

• Jeong YM
• Hwang HY
• Kim HS

• KMID: 1779460
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/kjr.2009.10.3.310

Abstract

The high signal intensities in bilateral mesiotemporal lobes on T2-weighted images are typical findings of herpes encephalitis or paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis. We report a case of neurosyphilis with mesiotemporal involvement on MRI. Positive antibodies in the cerebrospinal fluid confirmed the diagnosis. The results suggest that neurosyphilis should be considered when MRI results indicate mesiotemporal abnormalities.

Keyword

Neurosyphilis; Mesial temporal lesions; Magnetic resonance (MR)

MeSH Terms

Adult
Anti-Bacterial Agents/administration & dosage
Biopsy, Needle
Chancre/diagnosis/pathology
Diagnosis, Differential
Encephalitis, Herpes Simplex/diagnosis
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Limbic Encephalitis/diagnosis
Magnetic Resonance Imaging/*methods
Male
Neurosyphilis/*diagnosis/drug therapy/pathology
Penicillins/administration & dosage
Rare Diseases
Temporal Lobe/*pathology
Tongue/pathology

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Axial T2-weighted (A, B), FLAIR (C, D) and coronal T2-weighted (E, F) MR images show bilateral high signal intensities in mesial temporal lobes.

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