Nervous system lesions biopsies

The majority of patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have abnormalities in the central nervous system. It is frequently possible to provide a specific diagnosis on the basis of abnormalities seen by MR imaging the diagnosis is difficult in the presence of focal abnormalities with mass effect, as for example the differentiation between toxoplasmosis and cerebral lymphomas. Some clinicians recommend that all patients with AIDS and brain masses should first receive antibiotics for toxoplasmosis [83]. If improvement does not occur after medication, biopsy is considered. The most accurate diagnosis could be achieved by brain biopsy, but this can lead to substantial morbidity and mortality. Any technique that allows earlier diagnosis would enable earlier commencement of appropriate therapy. This is of particular importance in the case of lymphoma because untreated mean survival is short whereas radiation therapy and steroids may improve survival. H MRS showed significantly different biochemical profiles for AIDS-related brain lesions in 26 patients, which helped in correct diagnosis [83]. HIVpositive patients (109) were found to have focal intracranial lesions [84] 56 of these... 

Nervous system A 16-yecir-old girl developed near-complete visual loss associated with chiasmal neuritis after recent HPV immunization an MRI scan and a biopsy showed tumefactive demyeUnating lesions [4. ... 

Results of rectum biopsies show that nerve cell lesions in TSD occur outside the central nervous system. Involvement of cells other than nerve cells will be discussed in the chapter on neurovisceral gangliosidoses. 

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