Post Infectious Cerebellar Ataxia with Abnormal Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography Findings
10.21790/rvs.2017.16.4.167
- Author:
Hae Joo RHA
1
;
Jae Han PARK
Author Information
1. Department of Neurology, Catholic University of Daegu School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea. jaehanpark@cu.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Cerebellar ataxia;
Brain magnetic resonance image;
Single photon emission computed tomography
- MeSH:
Aged, 80 and over;
Ataxia;
Bacterial Infections;
Brain;
Cerebellar Ataxia;
Cerebrospinal Fluid;
Dizziness;
Female;
Humans;
Magnetic Resonance Imaging;
Methylprednisolone;
Nystagmus, Pathologic;
Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
- From:Journal of the Korean Balance Society
2017;16(4):167-170
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
A 84-year-old woman presented with a two weeks history of dizziness, slurred speech and ataxia. The neurological exam showed spontaneous left beating nystagmus, horizontal gaze evoked nystagmus and limb ataxia. A few weeks earlier, she had an upper airway infection. Brain MRI revealed diffuse leptomeningeal enhancement in the both cerebellar hemisphere and brain single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) showed hyperperfusion in both cerebellar hemisphere. Extensive laboratory studies with cerebrospinal fluid analysis did not reveal any etiologic factors. She was started on methylprednisolone (1 g/day for 7 days), gradually improved over the weeks. Post infectious cerebellar ataxia is a neurologic complication that occasionally follows systemic viral and bacterial infections. This case demonstrates that cerebellar abnormalities can be detected by brain magnetic resonance imaging and SPECT.
