Influenza A encephalopathy, cerebral vasculopathy, and posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome: combined occurrence in a 3-year-old child.
Encephalopathy is an uncommon complication of childhood influenza infection, typically recognized during influenza epidemics. Imaging hallmarks include characteristic thalamic lesions, thalamic necrosis and hemispheric edema. We describe a child with acute influenza A associated necrotizing encephalopathy with MR angiographic evidence of significant cerebral vasculopathy and a hemispheric edema pattern consistent with PRES. This case reinforces that significant cerebral vasculopathy can accompany influenza infection and that influenza is a likely trigger for PRES.
Bartynski
W S
WS
Department of Radiology, Presbyterian University Hospital, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. bartynskiws@upmc.edu
Upadhyaya
A R
AR
Petropoulou
K A
KA
Boardman
J F
JF
D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018792:Encephalitis, Viral / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009336:Necrosis; D054038:Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology