[Listeria monocytogenes rhomboencephalitis. Report of three cases].
An unusual number of cases of rhomb encephalitis have occurred in Chile because of the increased frequency of infections caused by Listeria monocytogenes. We report three females aged 36, 40 and 55 years, with the disease. All presented with a prodrome characterized by headache, nausea, vomiting and fever, followed by ataxia and unilateral palsies of the third, seventh and twelfth cranial nerves. One patient presented also a hemi-hypoesthesia. Magnetic resonance showed lesions in the posterior aspect of the brain stem, specifically in relation to the floor of the fourth ventricle. Blood cultures were positive for Listeria monocytogenes.
Miranda González
Gonzalo
G
Servicio de Imagenología, Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile. gomiranda2000@yahoo.com
Orellana P
Patricia
P
Dellien Z
Holvis
H
Switt R
Margarita
M
D000328:Adult; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008088:Listeriosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012249:Rhombencephalon / Q000382:microbiology*