MR OF HEAD AND NECK ADENOPATHY IN ASYMPTOMATIC HIV-SEROPOSITIVE MEN

PURPOSE: Adenopathy is a well-known component of AIDS-related complex. Our goal was to determine whether asymptomatic HIV-infected persons h ave characteristic findings of head and neck adenopathy on MR imaging and whether there is an association between the MR findings and the CD 4 lymphocyte counts. METHODS: We blindly and retrospectively evaluated the distribution and size of lymphadenopathy seen on screening MR exa minations that were performed on 50 asymptomatic HIV-positive male sub jects and 50 age-matched HIV-negative control subjects. We also correl ated the imaging findings in HIV-seropositive and -seronegative subjec ts with their CD4 counts. RESULTS: The HIV-positive subjects had a hig her incidence of adenopathy compared with the controls. Statistically significant differences were found between the groups in size and numb er of neck lymph nodes, thickness of the adenoids, size of high, deep cervical-retropharyngeal lymph nodes, and presence of parotid abnormal ities. We found a correlation between increasing lymph node size and d ecreasing CD4 levels. CONCLUSION: We conclude that HIV-positive asympt omatic patients have a high incidence of head and neck abnormalities i ncluding lymphadenopathy, and alteration in their CD4 counts not commo nly seen in seronegative control subjects.