Possibilities of magnetic resonance tomography in identification and diagnostics of neurosyphilis forms

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the possibilities of the magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) in diagnostics and identification of neurosyphilis. Materials and methods: A total of 1387 patients with different forms of documented neurosyphilis were examined to study the deficiency of neurological function. The diagnosis of neurosyphilis was confirmed by CSF-study. MRT was performed in 57 cases. Results: Magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) in 6 patients showed no pathology, 16 patients had arachnoid cystic changes and in 16 cases hydrocephaly occurred. Cerebral cortical atrophy was presented in 13 patients, in 12 cases — multifocal changes were visualized, 12 patients had white matter structural changes. Two cases required diagnostics. A 59-year-old man was hospitalized with epileptic seizure, progressive dementia and multifocal neurologic symptoms. A 40-year-old man was examined with recurring episodes of acute cere-brospinal accident and progressing cognitive disorders. Conclusion: MRT could be used in differential diagnostics of neurosyphilis imitating space-occupying lesions of cerebrum and spinal cord, tumors of central nervous system and could help to define the form of neurosyphilis

Keywords

• magnetic resonance tomography
• neurosyphilis
• ultrasonography