Whole-body MRI as an unconventional diagnostic tool in a pediatric patient with systemic infection. Issue 11 (4th December 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Picco, Paolo; Naselli, Aldo; Pala, Giovanna; Rizzo, Francesca; Damasio, Beatrice; Buoncompagni, Antonella; Martini, Alberto
• Is Part Of: Acta radiologica short reports. Volume 3:Issue 11(2014)
• Publication Date: 2014-12-04
• Subjects: Human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) -- whole-body MRI -- infectious diseases; Radiology -- Periodicals; Radiology -- Case studies -- Periodicals; 616.075705
• DOI: 10.1177/2047981614549571
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2047-9816

Abstract

Anaplasma phagocytophilum, an obligate intracellular bacterium, is the causative agent of human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA), a tickborne infection usually manifesting as fever, malaise, cytopenia, spleen enlargement, and hepatitis. Herein, we report a case of a 14-year-old girl with HGA whose whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) disclosed an unusual picture characterized by small, widespread punctuate millimetric nodules, hypointense on T1-weighted and hyperintense on STIR sequences. This firstly reported finding may represent an alternative tool for identifying atypical infectious diseases.