Diffusion weighted MR imaging of acute Wernicke's encephalopathy.
We report a case of Wernicke's encephalopathy in which diffusion-weighted MR images demonstrated symmetrical hyperintense lesions in the paraventricular area of the third ventricles and medial thalami. Apparent diffusion coefficient mapping showed isointensity in the aforementioned areas. Diffusion-weighted MR images may provide evidence of vasogenic edema associated with thiamine deficiency, proven in the histopathology of experimental animals. In addition, diffusion-weighted MRI has many advantages over T2 or FLARE-weighted brain MRI in detecting structural and functional abnormalities in Wernicke's encephalopathy.
Chung
Tae-Ick
TI
Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Youido St Mary's Hospital, #62 Youido-dong, Youngdungpo-gu, Seoul 150-071, South Korea.
Kim
Joong-Seok
JS
Park
Soung-Kyeong
SK
Kim
Beum-Saeng
BS
Ahn
Kook-Jin
KJ
Yang
Dong-Won
DW
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006939:Hyperemesis Gravidarum / Q000150:complications; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014899:Wernicke Encephalopathy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology