Multifocal varicella-zoster virus leukoencephalitis in a patient with AIDS: MR findings

We describe a patient,vith AIDS who presented with an acute encephalitis ca used by infection with varicella-zoster virus. The hemorrhagic, necrotizing encephalitis had an unusual MR appearance, with innumerable discrete, smal l, targetlike lesions in the right cerebral hemisphere, which were coalesce nt in the posterior temporal, parietal, and occipital regions. Of the sever al known disease patterns of varicella-zoster viral infection in the CNS, t his histopathologic pattern of multifocal leukoencephalitis is rare. It is important to recognize, as effective antiviral drug treatments are availabl e.