Symmetrical brainstem encephalitis caused by herpes simplex virus.
We describe a 53-year-old man with herpes simplex virus (HSV) brainstem encephalitis diagnosed based by positive HSV immunoglobulin M antibodies from cerebrospinal fluid. The MRI findings of this case had three unique features. First, the lesions were symmetrical. Second, the lesions may have been associated with reactivation of HSV infection in the region of the trigeminal nerve. Third, diffusion-weighted and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) imaging, conducted for the first time on an HSV brainstem encephalitis case, suggested that the lesions were associated with vasogenic edema.
Miura
Shiroh
S
Division of Respirology, Neurology and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume, Fukuoka 830-0011, Japan. shiroh46@med.kurume-u.ac.jp
Kurita
Takashi
T
Noda
Kazuhito
K
Ayabe
Mitsuyoshi
M
Aizawa
Hisamichi
H
Taniwaki
Takayuki
T
D001933:Brain Stem / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology*; D020803:Encephalitis, Herpes Simplex / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged