title: MRI of spinal cord and brain lesions in subacute combined degeneration.
abstract: Subacute combined degeneration is a rare cause of demyelination of the dorsal and lateral columns of the spinal cord and even more rarely of the pyramidal and spinocerebellar tracts and cerebellum. We present the initial and follow-up MRI appearances in a patient with subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord, brain stem and cerebellum, due to vitamin B12 deficiency. The lesions in these structures were demonstrated clearly as pathologically high-signal areas on T2-weighted images. These lesions, except those of the brain stem and cerebellum, disappeared 4 months after therapy. MRI 14 months after the patient's discharge on vitamin B12 therapy showed the same picture.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology, University of Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: V K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Katsaros
authors.forename: F X
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Glocker
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hemmer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schumacher
mesh_terms: D001933:Brain Stem / Q000473:pathology*; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000473:pathology*; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology*; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D014805:Vitamin B 12