[Magnetic resonance imaging expression of central nervous system due to angiostrongyliasis cantonensis]

To analyze the MRI characteristics of the central nervous system (CNS) due to infection of Angiostrongylus cantonensis.

A retrospective study was carried out to analyze MRI expression of CNS in 25 cases of angiostrongyliasis cantonensis in the First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province from May 1997 to July 2011.

Among the 25 patients, 8 cases were normal on MRI, 7 manifested meningitis, 8 showed parenchymal pathological change, and 2 patients showed spinal meningitis and ventriculomegaly, respectively. These lesions diffused or scattered in CNS and appeared as iso- or slightly low signal intensity on T1WI, high signal intensity on T2WI and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) images. After administration of Gd-DTPA, multiple enhanced round- or oval-shaped nodules appeared. Meningeal involvement revealed linear or nodular enhancement in leptomeninges or ependyma.

MRI image of angiostrongyliasis cantonensis was diverse. Multiple linear and nodular enhancement in the brain and spinal cord and enhancement in the leptomeninges were the main findings, but the MRI findings are mostly nonspecific.