title: [When genetics matters: an unusual case of left-sided hemiparesis].
abstract: We report the case of a 35-year-old woman who has been admitted to our emergency room because of the sudden onset of a left-sided hemiparesis. The physical examination showed disseminated teleangiectases on the upper and lower lip, on the mucosal surface of the tongue and on the skin. The cerebral CT scan presented a right-sided fronto-parietal lesion, more likely an abscess, confirmed on surgical removal. A meticulous family history showed the presence of similar clinical features among several family members, raising the certainty about the presence of the Rendu-Osler-Weber disease. This case is highly instructive in emphasizing the value of taking a careful medical history and how doing it is extremely important in our daily practice.
authors.affiliation: Servizio di Medicina interna, Ospedale Regionale di Lugano, Sede Civico, Lugano. tanja.schmidhauser@eoc.ch
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schmidhauser
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Riglietti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pons
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001165:Arteriovenous Malformations / Q000175:diagnosis; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D001922:Brain Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000098:blood supply; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D010375:Pedigree; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D034367:Streptococcus intermedius; D013683:Telangiectasia, Hereditary Hemorrhagic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed