MRI of AIDS-Related Polyradiculomyelitis

Abstract

The clinical presentation of urinary retention, flaccid paraparesis, back and/or leg pain, and "saddle anesthesia" in a patient with AIDS should suggest the diagnosis of CMV polyradiculomyelitis. Although diffuse enhancement of the cauda equina on postcontrast MRI is a nonspecific finding, it would strongly support this diagnosis in the appropriate clinical setting. The diagnosis may be easily missed without the use of a contrast agent.