CT findings in different stages of HIV infection: a prospective study.

In the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), different patterns of CT findings have been described. In a prospective and unselected CT study we examined 200 patients in different stages of HIV-1 infection, 14% of whom had focal lesions, 37% atrophic changes and 49% normal findings. The differential diagnosis is discussed. Depending on the patient's complaints and clinical findings, even when the CT scan is normal there may be treatable complications that must be detected by other diagnostic techniques, such as lumbar puncture.