Author(s)

Cherif Mohamadou Aidara^1*, Caroline Magne², Nfally Badji³, Lera Geraud Akpo³, Gaelle Ebinda Mipinda⁴, Hamidou Deme³, Philomène Kouna², Abdoulaye Dione Diop⁵, Abdoulaye Ndoye Diop⁵, Sokhna Ba⁵, Elhadj Niang³

¹Radiology Office of “De la Paix University Hospital”, Ziguinchor, Senegal.
²Internal Medicine Office of Polyclinique El Rapha, Libreville, Gabon.
³Radiology Office of Aristide Le Dantec University Hospital, Dakar, Senegal.
⁴Radiology Office of Polyclinique El Rapha, Libreville, Gabon.
⁵Radiology Office of Fann University Hospital, Dakar, Senegal.

Parasitic meningoencephalitis presents several etiologies which sometimes depend on their geographical location. They require thorough blood and cerebrospinal fluid check-up for directing an efficient treatment. Clinicians and radiologists are constantly looking for specific signs that could point to a particular etiology. The meningoencephalitis caused by Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) due to Trypanosoma brucei gambiense (TG) is a rare disease characterized by a slow progression, over years sometimes. Its non-specific presentation either clinically or in imaging can lead to misdiagnosis and thus, delay the treatment. However, involvement of the optic tracts seems to be characteristic of this condition, on old data from animal experimentation and recent high-field MRI data. MRI is the best current technique to explore the brain, cranial nerves, and visual pathways. In this article, we are going to present two observations of meningoencephalitis caused by HAT and then discuss some specific aspects of this neglected and re-emerging disease.

Human African Trypanosomiasis, Trypanosoma Brucei Gambiense, Diffuse Meningo-Encephalitis, Optic Tract Evolvement

Aidara, C. , Magne, C. , Badji, N. , Akpo, L. , Mipinda, G. , Deme, H. , Kouna, P. , Diop, A. , Diop, A. , Ba, S. and Niang, E. (2022) MRI Signal Abnormalities of the Optic Tracts, a Marker of Meningoencephalitis Caused by Trypanosoma Gambiense (TG)—A Delayed Patho-Radlological Correlation. Open Journal of Radiology, 12, 1-7. doi: 10.4236/ojrad.2022.121001.