MRI findings in patients with general paresis of insane: a report of 32 cases

Objective To evaluate the MRI findings in patients with general paresis of insane (GPI) to enhance the understanding of MRI diagnosis of this disease. Methods The clinical data and MRI findings of 32 patients with GPI, admitted to our hospital from May 2006 to November 2010, were retrospectively analyzed. Results The MRI findings of GPI were mainly divided into 2 types: cerebral atrophy (n=30) and cerebral swell (n=2). The major MRI findings in the type of cerebral atrophy included white cerebral atrophy in the temporal lobe, the frontal lobe, the hippocampus and the corpus callosum, morphological changes and T2 hyperintensity in the amygdaloid body and the hippocampus, gyral T2 hyperintensity in the cortex and subcortex, and T2 hypointensity in the lenticular nucleus. The MRI findings in the type of cerebral swell manifested as suffused and focal types. Conclusion The MRI findings in GPI are multiple with some characteristic manifestations. Diagnosis must be made through the combination of imaging features with clinical data and related laboratory tests. Key words: General paresis of insane;  MRI;  Neurosyphilis