[Proton spin tomography in HIV 1-induced diseases in head and neck region]

Most HIV-infected patients present with associated diseases (inflammations, hyperplastic disorders of the lymphatic tissue and malignancies) in the head and neck region. Speculum, endoscopy, ultrasound and computed tomography are important tools in the diagnostic management of HIV presentations. Moreover, MR is known to be an excellent technique especially in the evaluation of soft tissue disorders. -A prospective study of 23 out of 161 HIV-seropositive patients was performed to determine the efficiency of magnetic resonance imaging in HIV-related disorders. T1- and T2-sequences, as well as the contrast medium uptake (Gd-DTPA), presentation in three planes and the morphology of the tissue were useful parameters to distinguish the different HIV-related diseases (lymphatic hyperplasia, inflammation, Kaposi's sarcoma, Hodgkin's und Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, lymphoepithelial cysts and carcinoma) in most cases even prior to histological examination. -MR proved to be a significant non-invasive diagnostic tool especially in HIV-associated soft tissue disorders in the head and neck.