Viral Infections
Summary
- Definitive diagnosis of PML is made by brain biopsy, which shows characteristic focal myelin loss with bizarre astrocytes and lipid-laden macrophages
- Presumptive diagnosis can also be achieved via MRI, which almost always demonstrates distinct white matter lesions in areas of the brain corresponding to the clinical deficits
- Polymerase chain reaction detection of the JC virus in cerebrospinal fluid can be used to confirm diagnosis
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