Abstract: Objectives To analyze the magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) findings of HIV-associated cryptococcal meningoencephalitis and explore the difference between patients with and without highly active antiretroviral therapy(HARRT). Methods The MRI and clinical data of HIV-associated cryptococcal meningoencephalitis in 13 patients were retrospectively analyzed.The enrolled 13 patients were divided into 2 groups.There were 4 patients in the HARRT-group and 9 patients in the non-HARRT-group.Their cranial MRI characterizations and differences were detected and analyzed between the 2 groups. Results In the HARRT-group(n=4),typical focal meningeal enhancement(n=2,50%),parenchymal granuloma (n=2,50%) and parenchymal focal lesions or/and cerebral ischaemia（n=4,100%）were detected.In the non-HARRT-group(n=9),pseudocysts or/and dilated V-R(Virchow-Robin) spaces(n=7,77.78%),parenchymal lesions or/and cerebral ischaemia(n=6,66.67%) and granulomatous lesions(n=1,11.11%) were detected,while no contrast-enhancement focal meningeal lesions were detected. Conclusions The MRI characteristics of patients with HARRT were the typical focal meningeal enhancement and parenchymal granuloma.However,the specific MRI findings of patients without HAART were pseudocysts and dilated V-R spaces that concentrated in the bilateral basal ganglia.

Key words: Human immunodeficiency virus infection, Cryptococcus neoformans, Meningoencephalitis, Magnetic resonance imaging, Highly active antiretroviral therapy