• M Sanjaume, M Rodríguez-Carballeira, E Mauri, J Martínez-Lacasa, J R García, and J Garau.
• Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Mútua de Terrassa, Barcelona.
• Enferm. Infecc. Microbiol. Clin. 1997 Jan 1; 15 (1): 28-31.

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to analyze the usefulness of cerebral SPECT with thallium-201 in patients with the acquired human immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and focal cerebral lesions.MethodsSix patients with AIDS and focal cerebral lesions in whom a cerebral SPECT was performed with thallium-201 are described. Treatment was initiated with antiToxoplasma drugs in all patients. The clinical response, serology for positive toxoplasma and radiologic improvement were criteria for the diagnosis of encephalitis by Toxoplasma. In the remaining cases, cerebral biopsy and/or necropsy study were carried out.ResultsIn the 2 patients in whom cerebral SPECT demonstrated enhancement of the lesion, the pathologic diagnosis was cerebral lymphoma. Of the 4 remaining cases in whom no enhancement was observed, three corresponded to cerebral toxoplasmosis and one to progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy.ConclusionsCerebral SPECT with thallium-201 is a simple, specific and useful technique for the differentiation of primary cerebral lymphoma from the remaining inflammatory cerebral lesions which may be present in AIDS patients.

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