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Acute infectious disorders of the spinal cord and its roots with gadolinium-DTPA enhancement in magnetic resonance imaging

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Abstract

We studied three patients with myelomeningoradiculitis caused byBorrelia burgdorferi, herpes zoster virus or cytomegalovirus infection. All patients underwent MRI of the spinal cord with gadolinium-DTPA and showed enhancing lesions of the spinal cord or nerve roots that correlated with clinical signs. Gadolinium-DTPA enhancement may visualize lesions that suggest an inflammation associated with blood-brain-barrier alteration and indicate the diagnosis before serological results are available.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, University Hospital, Petersgraben 4, CH-4031, Basle, Switzerland

    S. Engelter, P. Lyrer & A. J. Steck

  2. Division of Neuroradiology, University Hospital, Basle, Switzerland

    E. W. Radü

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  1. S. Engelter
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  2. P. Lyrer
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  3. E. W. Radü
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  4. A. J. Steck
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Engelter, S., Lyrer, P., Radü, E.W. et al. Acute infectious disorders of the spinal cord and its roots with gadolinium-DTPA enhancement in magnetic resonance imaging. J Neurol 243, 191–195 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02444013

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02444013

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