MediAI

Clinical Hook An immunocompromised patient with advanced AIDS presented to the emergency department with progressive confusion, headache, and new-onset focal neurological deficits. Contrast-enhanced brain MRI demonstrated multiple ring-enhancing lesions involving the basal ganglia with extensive surrounding vasogenic edema and significant mass effect. At first glance, the imaging findings raised concern for an aggressive intracranial neoplasm. However, one critical imaging clue redirected the diagnosis toward one of the most treatable opportunistic infections encountered in neuroradiology. Was this primary CNS lymphoma, or was it the classic manifestation of cerebral toxoplasmosis? Correctly answering this question can determine whether a patient receives timely life-saving antimicrobial therapy or undergoes unnecessary brain biopsy and delayed treatment. Learning Objectives After reading this article, you will be able to: Understand the pathophysiology of cerebral toxoplasmo...

Neurocysticercosis: A Radiologic Diagnosis Hidden in Plain Sight Neurocysticercosis remains one of the most fascinating yet underrecognized infectious diseases encountered in modern medical imaging. Despite being the most common parasitic infection of the central nervous system worldwide, it is frequently overlooked in emergency diagnosis, especially in non-endemic countries. For radiologists, neurologists, emergency physicians, and clinicians involved in CT scan diagnosis or MRI interpretation, neurocysticercosis represents a critical differential diagnosis in patients presenting with seizures, chronic headaches, cognitive decline, or unexplained intracranial lesions. The disease can mimic tumors, metastases, encephalitis, tuberculosis, or autoimmune disorders. In many cases, imaging becomes the decisive factor that saves the patient from misdiagnosis and unnecessary surgery. This article explores the pathophysiology, epidemiology, imaging findings, differential diagnosis, treatment, ...