Brain, Toxoplasmosis [LMP46559]

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Diagnostic Modality: 
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Disease Category: 
Infectious Diseases
Diagnosis: 
Cerebral toxoplasmosis
Species: 
Human
Organ System: 
Central Nervous System
Gender: 
Female
Age: 
33 years
Diagnosis Code: 
ICD-10: B20.8
Slide Contributor Information
Gao, A., Munoz, D.

Keywords

Toxoplasma gondii, immunodeficiency, HIV, parasite, protozoan

Clinical History

33-year-old woman with new-onset seizures. Neuroimaging shows ring-enhancing lesions in the left frontal lobe and right cerebellum. Subsequently, the patient was found to be HIV positive.

Clinical Discussion

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii. Initial infections are usually asymptomatic but there is reactivation of the latent infection following immunocompromise. Microscopically, in the CNS, there are necrotizing abscesses with abundant acute and chronic inflammatory cells. Intra- and extracellular Toxoplasma tachyzoites are usually abundant. Cysts containing large numbers of bradyzoites may occur close to necrotic areas. The presence of organisms can also be demonstrated by immunohistochemistry.