Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!ucla-cs!news
From: MACGYVER%INDYCMS.BITNET@mvs.oac.ucla.edu (Mr. Obvious)
Newsgroups: sci.med.aids
Subject: Re: (2869) Fact or Fiction Medical Story?
Message-ID: <1991Jan5.212632.24555@cs.ucla.edu>
Date: 5 Jan 91 17:42:12 GMT
Sender: news@cs.ucla.edu (Mr. News)
Organization: UCLA, Computer Science Department
Lines: 34
Approved: phil@wubios.wustl.edu
Note: non-commercial reproduction.
Nntp-Posting-Host: squid.cs.ucla.edu
Archive-Number: 2873

On Fri, 4 Jan 91 23:31:55 pst Support Account for SCI.MED.AIDS said:

>
>In another newsgroup far away, somebody posted a medical story.  Would
>somebody who has relevant experience email me their opinion on whether
>or not the story sounds true?  Here's a summary:

As soon as I started reading, my first thought was AIDS dementia.

But since I'm not a doctor, and don't play one on TV...

>?My nephew is currently in the hospital suffering from an infection
>?in the left brain.  There are lesions and tumors apparent in the
>?cat scans.  He probably will never talk again.  They give him
>?7 months to live.
>
>to people who have sudden trouble talking?  What about MRI?  Is MRI equipment
>generally scheduled ahead? Does AIDS really cause brain tumors?

MRIs are frequently scheduled weeks in advance.  If one needs an "emergency"
MRI, it is not unusual for the hospital to admit you to "inpatient" status
since it's easier to "butt" in line as an inpatient than as an outpatient,
regardless of your medical condition.  Until the last two or three years,
the number of MRIs and where they were located was regulated.  You had to
demonstrate "x" patients being diverted to other facilities, etc. etc.
for the use of an MRI to justify getting one.  Yes, they are very expensive,
but because of their regulated status, even facilities which wanted and
could afford, couldn't always get (this info from a large, large MRI
story in the Chicago Tribune, probably in the last two-three years.

P.S.

It was announced this week that the status of persons who are HIV+
is being changed at the borders of the US.