title: Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities in Bartonella encephalopathy.
abstract: The authors describe 2 patients with new-onset, refractory status epilepticus and serological evidence for Bartonella infection. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patient 1 showed transient diffusion abnormalities in the posterior (pulvinar) thalami. In patient 2, brain MRI showed several enhancing cortical lesions, of which one lesion was bright on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). In patients with unexplained, refractory seizures, the presence of DWI abnormalities warrants a search for unusual infectious or inflammatory disorders, like Bartonella encephalitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Biogen, Inc. (MAP), Boston, USA. asinghal@partners.org
authors.forename: Aneesh B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Singhal
authors.forename: Michael C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Newstein
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Budzik
authors.forename: Jang-Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rordorf
authors.forename: Ferdinando S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Buonanno
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Panzara
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001474:Bartonella Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D013226:Status Epilepticus / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*