Correlation of magnetic resonance images with neuropathology in acute Wernicke's encephalopathy.
We correlated serial brain MRIs with neuropathological findings in a 16-year-old female whose autopsy was consistent with Wernicke's encephalopathy (WE). Diffusion-weighted imaging, diffusion coefficients mapping and neuropathology findings were suggested vasogenic edema in the periaqueductal and peri-the-fourth ventricular areas. This is the first documented case report to make this direct comparison. The characteristic WE changes in the mammillary body was also correlated with the findings of MRI with contrast enhancement. Bilateral cortical lesions revealed by MRI were atypical and rare in WE and were not evidenced by pathological changes.
The Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, #201 Shi-Pai Road, Sec 2, Taipei 11217, Taiwan.
Yo-Tsen
YT
Liu
Jong-Ling
JL
Fuh
Jiing-Feng
JF
Lirng
Anna Fen-Yau
AF
Li
Donald Ming-Tak
DM
Ho
Shuu-Jiun
SJ
Wang
D000293:Adolescent; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D004673:Encephalomyelitis, Acute Disseminated / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020300:Intracranial Hemorrhages / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008326:Mammillary Bodies / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017211:Treatment Failure; D014839:Vomiting / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D014899:Wernicke Encephalopathy / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D008775:Methylprednisolone