Hypertensive encephalopathy presenting with isolated brain stem and cerebellar edema.
Hypertensive encephalopathy typically presents with headache and confusion and bilateral parietooccipital vasogenic edema. Brain stem and cerebellar edema in hypertensive encephalopathy usually occurs in association with these typical supratentorial changes and is usually asymptomatic. We report here an uncommon hypertensive patient with isolated, severe, and symptomatic brain stem and cerebellar edema with fourth ventricular obstruction and mild hydrocephalus. Rapid treatment of hypertension resulted in clinical and radiological improvement. Prompt recognition of the cause and aggressive treatment of hypertension in such patients are crucial to relieve edema and prevent life-threatening progression.
Bhagavati
Satyakam
S
Department of Neurology, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA. satyakamb@hotmail.com
Chum
Florence
F
Choi
Jai
J
D000328:Adult; D001284:Atrophy; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000473:pathology*; D002526:Cerebellar Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000473:pathology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000473:pathology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D020546:Fourth Ventricle / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000175:diagnosis; D020343:Hypertensive Encephalopathy / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed