Lipodystrophy of HIV (LDHIV) in the Head and Neck: Imaging and Clinical Features

Saman Hazany, Rafael Rojas, Gul Moonis

Department of Neuroradiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, USA.

DOI: 10.4236/ijohns.2012.12005                

Abstract

A subset of HIV-1 infected patients undergoing antiretroviral treatment with HIV-1 protease inhibitors (PI’s) develops a syndrome called Lipodystrophy of HIV (LDHIV). LDHIV is characterized by loss of peripheral subcutaneous adipose tissue (face, limbs, buttocks), visceral fat accumulation, and in some cases, lipomatosis in the neck and dorsocervical area .We describe the clinical and imaging features of LDHIV in the head and neck in a series of 5 cases. There is a consistent pattern of fat accumulation in the dorsocervical region with paucity of fat in the face. This classic appearance should be recognized as potentially related to drug toxicity in the HIV infected population.

Keywords

Lipodystrophy of HIV; LDHIV; Protease Inhibitor

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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