A case of meningococcal meningitis with multiple cerebellar microbleeds detected by susceptibility-weighted imaging.
BACKGROUND
Bacterial meningitis is a fatal infectious disease of the central nervous system complicating intravascular involvements. Multiple microbleeds are rarely identified as complications because of the limited detection threshold of conventional imaging modalities. We report the first case of meningococcal meningitis with successful identification of multiple microbleeds in the cerebellum by susceptibility-weighted imaging.


METHODS
A 19-year-old Japanese female was brought to our emergency department because of fever and coma. A spinal tap was performed and turbid yellow fluid was collected. A diagnosis of bacterial meningitis was established and the patient was admitted to an intensive care unit. Dexamethasone and Antibiotics were administered and Neisseria meningitides was cultured from the spinal fluid. On day 10, postcontrast magnetic resonance imaging identified enhanced subarachnoid space in the cerebellum. Susceptibility-weighted imaging showed spotty low-intensity signals in the cerebellar tissue, indicating microbleeds. The patient made a full recovery from coma and was discharged without neurological sequelae on day 24.


CONCLUSIONS
Meningococcal meningitis can cause multiple microbleeds in the cerebellum. In this report, we successfully identified microbleeds by susceptibility-weighed imaging. Using this imaging modality, further investigations will clarify its clinical incidence and significance.
Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Nara Medical University, Shijo-cho, 840, Kashihara City, Nara, Japan. keitanara1082@naramed-u.ac.jp.
Keita
K
Miyazaki
Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Nara Medical University, Shijo-cho, 840, Kashihara City, Nara, Japan. hidetakarina@gmail.com.
Hidetada
H
Fukushima
Department of Neurosurgery, Nara Medical University, Shijo-cho, 840, Kashihara City, Nara, Japan. kogeichi@naramed-u.ac.jp.
Youhei
Y
Kogeichi
Department of Neurosurgery, Nara Prefecture General Medical Center, Hiramatsu, 1-30-1, Nara City, Nara, Japan. mecadoc86@live.jp.
Tomoo
T
Watanabe
Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Nara Medical University, Shijo-cho, 840, Kashihara City, Nara, Japan. norimoto@naramed-u.ac.jp.
Kazunobu
K
Norimoto
Department of Radiology, Nara Medical University, Shijo-cho, 840, Kashihara City, Nara, Japan. ttaoka@naramed-u.ac.jp.
Toshiaki
T
Taoka
Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Nara Medical University, Shijo-cho, 840, Kashihara City, Nara, Japan. okucci@naramed-u.ac.jp.
Kazuo
K
Okuchi
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000473:pathology*; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D003907:Dexamethasone