       Document 0858
 DOCN  M9550858
 TI    Isolated toxoplasmosis of the thoracic spinal cord in a patient with
       acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Case report.
 DT    9505
 AU    Resnick DK; Comey CH; Welch WC; Martinez AJ; Hoover WW; Jacobs GB;
       Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh; School of
       Medicine, Pennsylvania.
 SO    J Neurosurg. 1995 Mar;82(3):493-6. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/95165220
 AB    Toxoplasmosis and lymphoma are the two most common causes of
       intraparenchymal cerebral mass lesions in patients with acquired
       immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The clinical and radiographic features
       of the intracranial lesions have been well described. Because of the
       high frequency of toxoplasmosis in the AIDS population, common therapy
       for patients presenting with intracranial mass lesions consists of an
       empirical trial of anti-Toxoplasma chemotherapy, with biopsy reserved
       for cases demonstrating features considered to be more consistent with
       lymphoma, or for lesions that do not improve despite adequate
       anti-Toxoplasma treatment. A similar treatment algorithm does not exist
       for intramedullary lesions of the spinal cord. The authors describe a
       patient who presented with paraparesis resulting from an isolated
       thoracic intramedullary lesion. An open biopsy of the lesion revealed
       characteristic structures containing Toxoplasma tachyzoites. The
       clinical and radiographic presentation of the lesion is discussed, the
       available literature is reviewed, and a treatment strategy for spinal
       cord lesions in AIDS patients is proposed.
 DE    Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*COMPLICATIONS  Biopsy  Case Report
       Human  Magnetic Resonance Imaging  Male  Middle Age  Spinal
       Cord/PATHOLOGY  Spinal Cord Diseases/*COMPLICATIONS/DIAGNOSIS/PATHOLOGY
       Toxoplasmosis/*COMPLICATIONS/DIAGNOSIS/PATHOLOGY  JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

