Hyperintense basal ganglia on T1-weighted magnetic resonance images in a patient with common variable immunodeficiency associated with elevated serum manganese.

The authors report on a 32-year-old man with common variable immunodeficiency and high signal intensity in basal ganglia on T1-weighted images. No signal alteration on T2-weighted and postcontrast images was observed. The patient had elevated levels of manganese in the serum. The authors conclude that the unusual hyperintensity in the basal ganglia area on T1-weighted images resulted from manganese deposition due to liver dysfunction.