Fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery imaging of cerebral infarction associated with tuberculous meningitis

A 12-month-old girl presented with fever and vomiting. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination revealed an increase of mononuclear cells and Mycobacteri um tuberculosis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) taken two months after th e onset showed cerebral infarction in the left basal ganglia, tuberculoma i n the interpeduncular cistern and brain atrophy. The infarction was shown a s central cystic lesions with surrounding hyperintensity in the fluid-atten uated inversion-recovery (FLAIR) image. The cystic lesions were not differe ntiated from surrounding lesions in T2 weighted image (T2WI) because both l esions were demonstrated as hyperintensity areas. The hyperintensity lesion shown in FLAIR image may indicate border zone encephalitis. The FLAIR imag e is more useful than T1 or T2WI to detect the extension of the infarcted a rea and circumscribed change. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights res erved.