Skip to main content
Advertisement

Main menu

  • Home
  • Content
    • Current Issue
    • Accepted Manuscripts
    • Article Preview
    • Past Issue Archive
    • Video Articles
    • AJNR Case Collection
    • Case of the Week Archive
    • Case of the Month Archive
    • Classic Case Archive
  • Special Collections
    • AJNR Awards
    • ASNR Foundation Special Collection
    • Most Impactful AJNR Articles
    • Photon-Counting CT
    • Spinal CSF Leak Articles (Jan 2020-June 2024)
  • Multimedia
    • AJNR Podcasts
    • AJNR SCANtastic
    • Trainee Corner
    • MRI Safety Corner
    • Imaging Protocols
  • For Authors
    • Submit a Manuscript
    • Submit a Video Article
    • Submit an eLetter to the Editor/Response
    • Manuscript Submission Guidelines
    • Statistical Tips
    • Fast Publishing of Accepted Manuscripts
    • Graphical Abstract Preparation
    • Imaging Protocol Submission
    • Author Policies
  • About Us
    • About AJNR
    • Editorial Board
    • Editorial Board Alumni
  • More
    • Become a Reviewer/Academy of Reviewers
    • Subscribers
    • Permissions
    • Alerts
    • Feedback
    • Advertisers
    • ASNR Home

User menu

  • Alerts
  • Log in

Search

  • Advanced search
American Journal of Neuroradiology
American Journal of Neuroradiology

American Journal of Neuroradiology

ASHNR American Society of Functional Neuroradiology ASHNR American Society of Pediatric Neuroradiology ASSR
  • Alerts
  • Log in

Advanced Search

  • Home
  • Content
    • Current Issue
    • Accepted Manuscripts
    • Article Preview
    • Past Issue Archive
    • Video Articles
    • AJNR Case Collection
    • Case of the Week Archive
    • Case of the Month Archive
    • Classic Case Archive
  • Special Collections
    • AJNR Awards
    • ASNR Foundation Special Collection
    • Most Impactful AJNR Articles
    • Photon-Counting CT
    • Spinal CSF Leak Articles (Jan 2020-June 2024)
  • Multimedia
    • AJNR Podcasts
    • AJNR SCANtastic
    • Trainee Corner
    • MRI Safety Corner
    • Imaging Protocols
  • For Authors
    • Submit a Manuscript
    • Submit a Video Article
    • Submit an eLetter to the Editor/Response
    • Manuscript Submission Guidelines
    • Statistical Tips
    • Fast Publishing of Accepted Manuscripts
    • Graphical Abstract Preparation
    • Imaging Protocol Submission
    • Author Policies
  • About Us
    • About AJNR
    • Editorial Board
    • Editorial Board Alumni
  • More
    • Become a Reviewer/Academy of Reviewers
    • Subscribers
    • Permissions
    • Alerts
    • Feedback
    • Advertisers
    • ASNR Home
  • Follow AJNR on Twitter
  • Visit AJNR on Facebook
  • Follow AJNR on Instagram
  • Join AJNR on LinkedIn
  • RSS Feeds

AJNR is seeking candidates for the AJNR Podcast Editor. Read the position description.

Abstract

Neurosyphilis in HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients: neuroimaging findings.

T C Brightbill, I H Ihmeidan, M J Post, J R Berger and D A Katz
American Journal of Neuroradiology April 1995, 16 (4) 703-711;
T C Brightbill
Department of Radiology, University of Miami (Fla) School of Medicine/Jackson Memorial Center, USA.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
I H Ihmeidan
Department of Radiology, University of Miami (Fla) School of Medicine/Jackson Memorial Center, USA.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
M J Post
Department of Radiology, University of Miami (Fla) School of Medicine/Jackson Memorial Center, USA.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
J R Berger
Department of Radiology, University of Miami (Fla) School of Medicine/Jackson Memorial Center, USA.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
D A Katz
Department of Radiology, University of Miami (Fla) School of Medicine/Jackson Memorial Center, USA.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • Article
  • Info & Metrics
  • Responses
  • PDF
Loading

Abstract

PURPOSE To evaluate and describe the neuroimaging findings of patients with neurosyphilis.

METHODS The neuroimaging studies of 35 patients with documented neurosyphilis were reviewed. Diagnosis was established in 34 patients with cerebrospinal fluid for a Venereal Disease Research Laboratory test, complemented by autopsy in 1 and brain biopsy in 1. All patients had reactive fluorescent treponemal antibody tests with absorption in their sera. Imaging studies included plain and contrast-enhanced CT of the brain, plain and gadolinium-enhanced MR, MR angiography, and conventional angiography. Imaging findings were also correlated with the relevant pathologic findings at autopsy in three additional patients with neurosyphilis who did not have brain imaging studies.

RESULTS Of the 35 patients with imaging studies, 32 tested human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-seropositive, and 3 were HIV-seronegative. Eleven (31%) of 35 patients had normal radiographic findings. Cerebral infarctions were seen in 8 (23%) of 35 patients, and nonspecific white matter lesions in 7 (20%) of 35. Cerebral gummas and extraaxial enhancement indicating meningitis were noted in 2 (6%) of 35 patients, respectively. Arteritis was demonstrated in 2 (50%) of 4 patients who underwent either MR angiography or conventional angiography. The 3 subjects who had autopsy but not imaging studies were found to have manifestations of meningovascular syphilis, including syphilitic leptomeningitis and an obliterative endarteritis.

CONCLUSION We conclude that findings of vascular occlusive disease manifested as infarction or arteritis, enhancing cortical lesions with or without adjacent meningeal enhancement, focal or diffuse extraaxial enhancement, and white matter disease, although nonspecific, in the proper clinical setting should prompt appropriate testing for neurosyphilis, a treatable disease, in patients with and without HIV infection.

  • Copyright © American Society of Neuroradiology
PreviousNext
Back to top

In this issue

American Journal of Neuroradiology
Vol. 16, Issue 4
1 Apr 1995
  • Table of Contents
  • Index by author
Advertisement
Download PDF
Email Article

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word on American Journal of Neuroradiology.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Neurosyphilis in HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients: neuroimaging findings.
(Your Name) has sent you a message from American Journal of Neuroradiology
(Your Name) thought you would like to see the American Journal of Neuroradiology web site.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Cite this article
T C Brightbill, I H Ihmeidan, M J Post, J R Berger, D A Katz
Neurosyphilis in HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients: neuroimaging findings.
American Journal of Neuroradiology Apr 1995, 16 (4) 703-711;

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
0 Responses
Respond to this article
Share
Bookmark this article
Neurosyphilis in HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients: neuroimaging findings.
T C Brightbill, I H Ihmeidan, M J Post, J R Berger, D A Katz
American Journal of Neuroradiology Apr 1995, 16 (4) 703-711;
del.icio.us logo Twitter logo Facebook logo Mendeley logo
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One

Jump to section

  • Article
  • Info & Metrics
  • Responses
  • PDF

Related Articles

  • No related articles found.
  • PubMed
  • Google Scholar

Cited By...

  • Intracranial Syphilitic Gumma Mimicking a Brain Stem Glioma
  • Neurosyphilis with complex partial status epilepticus and mesiotemporal MRI abnormalities mimicking herpes simplex encephalitis
  • BRAIN IMAGING
  • Crossref
  • Google Scholar

This article has not yet been cited by articles in journals that are participating in Crossref Cited-by Linking.

Similar Articles

Advertisement

Indexed Content

  • Current Issue
  • Accepted Manuscripts
  • Article Preview
  • Past Issues
  • Editorials
  • Editor's Choice
  • Fellows' Journal Club
  • Letters to the Editor
  • Video Articles

Cases

  • Case Collection
  • Archive - Case of the Week
  • Archive - Case of the Month
  • Archive - Classic Case

Special Collections

  • AJNR Awards
  • ASNR Foundation Special Collection
  • Most Impactful AJNR Articles
  • Photon-Counting CT
  • Spinal CSF Leak Articles (Jan 2020-June 2024)

More from AJNR

  • Trainee Corner
  • Imaging Protocols
  • MRI Safety Corner

Multimedia

  • AJNR Podcasts
  • AJNR Scantastics

Resources

  • Turnaround Time
  • Submit a Manuscript
  • Submit a Video Article
  • Submit an eLetter to the Editor/Response
  • Manuscript Submission Guidelines
  • Statistical Tips
  • Fast Publishing of Accepted Manuscripts
  • Graphical Abstract Preparation
  • Imaging Protocol Submission
  • Evidence-Based Medicine Level Guide
  • Publishing Checklists
  • Author Policies
  • Become a Reviewer/Academy of Reviewers
  • News and Updates

About Us

  • About AJNR
  • Editorial Board
  • Editorial Board Alumni
  • Alerts
  • Permissions
  • Not an AJNR Subscriber? Join Now
  • Advertise with Us
  • Librarian Resources
  • Feedback
  • Terms and Conditions
  • AJNR Editorial Board Alumni

American Society of Neuroradiology

  • Not an ASNR Member? Join Now

© 2025 by the American Society of Neuroradiology All rights, including for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies, are reserved.
Print ISSN: 0195-6108 Online ISSN: 1936-959X

Powered by HighWire