XU Cui1, LIU Yu-bao1, CHEN Hai-bo2, XU Kai-yuan1, ZOU Qing1, CHEN Xue-qiang2, RUAN Zhi-bing3
1. Medical Imaging Center, Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University, Shenzhen Guangdong 518100, China;
2. Medical Imaging Center, Taihe Hospital of Shiyan City, Shiyan Hubei 442000, China;
3. Medical Imaging Center, the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550000, China
Abstract：Objective: To study the MRI features of cerebral paragonimiasis and to assess the value of MRI in the diagnosis of this disease. Methods: Six cases with a positive antibody test of cerebral paragonimiasis were included in the study. Conventional MRI was performed with spin echo pulse sequence, DWI and Gd-DTPA enhancement for all the cases. MRI features and the pathogenesis of cerebral paragonimiasis were retrospectively analyzed. Results: The age of the 6 cases were between 9 and 20 years old. There were 20 lesions in the 6 cases totally, with 19 lesions in the cerebrum and 1 in the basal ganglia region. MRI revealed conglomerated round cysts and edematous area. The cysts had rim of high signal on T1WI, caused by hemorrhage. There were characteristic “tunnel sign” in all the 6 cases. In the Gd-DTPA enhanced images, 5 cases showed patchy or nodular enhancement, and 1 case showed meningeal enhancement. Conclusion: The clinical features of cerebral paragonimiasis are various and diverse, and it often developes in children and adolescents. MRI features of cerebral paragonimiasis are relatively typical. The signal due to hemorrhage and “tunnel sign” are characteristic. MRI is of important value in the diagnosis of the disease.
