Clinical importance of delayed MRI contrast enhancement of primary central nervous system lymphoma in AIDS

Accurately distinguishing between cerebral toxoplasmosis and primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL), still the most common secondary CNS mass lesion complications of AIDS, has long represented a diagnostic challenge in those with HIV. A young adult male with AIDS presented with evolving ophthalmoplegias, Parinaud's syndrome and gait dysfunction. MRI with gadolinium contrast revealed a brainstem lesion failing to enhance on initially obtained post-contrast images yet prominently enhancing on images acquired endmost within the same scanning session. Biopsy ultimately confirmed lesion aetiology as PCNSL. While the definitive diagnosis of PCNSL generally requires brain biopsy, different MRI contrast-enhancement time courses of PCNSL versus toxoplasmosis (PCNSL tends to peak-enhance sooner than toxoplasmosis) can provide differential diagnostic insight. These images underscore the delayed nature of PCNSL contrast enhancement and demonstrate the diagnostic importance of attending to post-gadolinium image acquisition timing to help inform utilisation of MRI for PCNSL identification.