RESUMO
Chagas disease is an infection caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, a parasite endemic in Latin America. Acute involvement of the CNS by Chagas has been considered rare, but presumed reactivation of chronic disease in immunosuppressed patients has been the subject of recent reports. Our objective is to describe the clinical and imaging characteristics of four patients with Chagas disease and CNS involvement, and the patients had to have available MRI and a diagnosis confirmed by biopsy. The imaging findings were similar, highlighting the presence of focal cerebral lesions with hypointensity on T2-WI, and these lesions assume a "bunch of acai berries appearance", a fruit involved in the transmission of T. cruzi. The post Gd T1-WI shows punctate enhancement. Knowledge of this pattern may be crucial to recognize this disease in immunocompromised patients from endemic areas.
Assuntos
Neoplasias do Sistema Nervoso Central , Doença de Chagas , Euterpe , Trypanosoma cruzi , Humanos , Euterpe/parasitologia , Doença de Chagas/diagnóstico por imagem , Doença de Chagas/epidemiologia , Doença de Chagas/parasitologia , RadiografiaRESUMO
Abstract Objective: To investigate the correlations among the extent of bone involvement, splenic volume, and quality of life in patients with Gaucher disease. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive, prospective cross-sectional study of 18 patients with Gaucher disease who underwent 3-T magnetic resonance imaging of both femurs and the lumbar spine. Semiquantitative analyses were performed on the basis of the bone marrow burden (BMB) score. We looked for linear relationships among the variables splenic volume, quality of life score, and BMB score. Results: We identified a linear relationship between the BMB scores and splenic volume. The quality of life score showed no statistically significant relationship with splenic volume or the BMB score. Conclusion: The linear relationship between the BMB score and the splenic volume indicates that the extent of bone disease is greater in individuals with splenomegaly. No correlation was found between the BMB and quality of life scores, illustrating the insidious and silent progression of Gaucher disease.
Resumo Objetivo: Investigar a correlação entre a extensão do envolvimento ósseo, o volume esplênico e a qualidade de vida em pacientes com doença de Gaucher. Materiais e Métodos: Estudo descritivo, prospectivo e transversal de 18 pacientes com doença de Gaucher submetidos a ressonância magnética de 3-T de ambos os fêmures e da coluna lombar. Análise semiquantitativa foi feita utilizando o escore bone marrow burden (BMB). Correlação linear foi estudada para as variáveis volume esplênico, qualidade de vida e escore BMB. Resultados: Uma correlação linear entre os escores BMB e volume esplênico foi demonstrada. Em relação ao índice de qualidade de vida, não foi observada correlação estatisticamente significante nem com o volume esplênico e nem com o escore BMB. Conclusão: Nosso estudo demonstrou uma correlação linear entre o escore BMB e o volume esplênico, correspondendo a maior extensão de doença óssea em indivíduos com maior esplenomegalia. Nenhuma correlação foi encontrada entre o escore BMB e a qualidade de vida, indicando a natureza insidiosa e a progressão silenciosa da doença de Gaucher.
RESUMO
Paracoccidioidomycosis is an infectious disease characterized primarily by pulmonary involvement and potential dissemination to other organs, mainly mucosa and skin; however, it can affect any organ in the body. Although difficult to diagnose purely based on imaging, imaging is important for diagnosis, follow-up, and assessment of disease-related complications. We provide a comprehensive review of the most notable imaging findings of paracoccidioidomycosis.