BACKGROUND: The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of Hashimoto's encephalopathy (HE) are variable; images range from having a normal appearance, to showing ischemic lesions, demyelination, or vasogenic edema. CASE REPORT: A 57-year-old woman presented with a sudden onset of dysarthria and dizziness. Routine blood tests were normal and the MRI was unremarkable. After admission, she developed aphasic seizures and myoclonus, and eventually became comatose. A follow up MRI showed diffuse high signal intensities at the bilateral cerebral white matter on fluid attenuated inversion recovery imaging. The serum titers of the anti-thyroglobulin antibody and anti-thyroperoxidase antibody were increased. After 5 days of 1,000 mg/day of intravenous methylprednisolone infusion, she recovered rapidly. CONCLUSION: We propose that repeated brain MRIs are necessary for the diagnosis of HE. Diffuse leukoencephalopathy may be a pathologic finding on MRI and, in this case study, was shown to be reversible after applying an appropriate treatment.
Brain ; Brain Diseases ; Coma ; Demyelinating Diseases ; Diagnosis ; Dizziness ; Dysarthria ; Edema ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hashimoto Disease ; Hematologic Tests ; Humans ; Leukoencephalopathies ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Methylprednisolone ; Middle Aged ; Myoclonus ; Seizures ; White Matter

BACKGROUND: Herpes zoster of the head and neck commonly presents with Ramsay Hunt syndrome. However, vesicular eruptions may occur on the pharyngeal or laryngeal area with multiple lower cranial-nerve (CN) palsy. CASE REPORT: We report on the case of a 54-year-old man with herpes zoster of the pharynx and larynx with multiple CN palsy and persistent hiccups. He initially developed progressive dysphagia, hoarseness, and persistent hiccups (CN IX and X). After admission, Dizziness, hearing impairment, and peripheral facial palsy (CN VII and VIII) were complicated. The results of a polymerase chain reaction test of saliva and vesicular fluid from the ear and throat were strongly positive for varicella zoster virus. The progression of CN palsy was in an ascending sequence. CONCLUSION: We suggest that the sequence of CN palsy may be either ascending or descending, depending on the initial site of involvement.
Cranial Nerve Diseases ; Cranial Nerves ; Deglutition Disorders ; Dizziness ; Ear ; Facial Paralysis ; Head ; Hearing Loss ; Herpes Zoster Oticus ; Herpes Zoster ; Herpesvirus 3, Human ; Hiccup ; Hoarseness ; Humans ; Laryngitis ; Larynx ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Paralysis ; Pharynx ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Saliva