Influenza-Associated Encephalitis/Encephalopathy with a Reversible Lesion in the Splenium of the Corpus Callosum: A Case Report and Literature Review

• Published in: American journal of neuroradiology : AJNR Vol. 25; no. 5; pp. 798 - 802
• Main Authors: Takanashi, Jun-ichi, Barkovich, A. James, Yamaguchi, Ken-ichi, Kohno, Yoichi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oak Brook, IL Am Soc Neuroradiology 01.05.2004; American Society of Neuroradiology
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Brain; Child; Corpus Callosum; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Encephalitis, Viral - diagnosis; Encephalitis, Viral - virology; Female; Humans; Influenza, Human - diagnosis; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Male; Medical sciences; Nervous system; Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry; Infection; Case study; Encephalitis; Nervous system diseases; Radiodiagnosis; Viral disease; Central nervous system disease; Influenza A; Corpus callosum; Cerebral disorder
• ISSN: 0195-6108; 1936-959X

We report the cases of two patients with influenza-associated encephalitis/encephalopathy (IAEE) who presented with mild CNS manifestations and complete recovery within a few days. Initial MR imaging at days 4 and 5 revealed a lesion in the central portion of the splenium of the corpus callosum with a reduced apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value, which completely resolved on follow-up studies at day 10. We postulate two possible mechanisms for decreased ADC; namely, intramyelinic edema and an inflammatory infiltrate.