Nota Clínica

Benign encephalitis of the brain stem

P. Garcés-Cabello, R. Reig, E. Martínez, I. Sebastián, M. Herrera [REV NEUROL 2001;32:341-344] PMID: 11333391 DOI: https://doi.org/10.33588/rn.3204.2000457

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Volumen 32 | Number 04 | Nº of views of the article 13.501 | Nº of PDF downloads 903 | Article publication date 01/03/2001

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ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION The secondary encephalitis disorders are due to an immunological mechanism which causes demyelinating lesions of the central and peripheral nervous systems, with very variable clinical features. The pathogenesis and localization of benign encephalitis of the brain stem and the Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS) are still subject to debate. It is suggested that they may both belong to different extremes of the same nosological spectrum known as the ophthalmoplegiaataxiaareflexia syndrome. CLINICAL CASE.We report the case of an 11 year old boy with encephalitis of the brain stem who had electromyographic alterations compatible with the GuillainBarré syndrome, and MR images characteristic of an acute demyelinating disorder of the brainstem.

CONCLUSIONS The encephalitis of the brain stem is an uncommon condition in children which leads to diagnostic difficulty at its onset, since this is similar in other disorders such as MFS, tumours, cerebrovascular accidents and less often in the initial stages of multiple sclerosis. The clinical course is very useful to distinguish between these conditions. MR is the imaging technique of choice for diagnosis in these patients. Although there is currently no specific treatment for postinfectious encephalitis, the use of high doses of immunoglobulins may be justified in view of the physiopathological origin of the condition. KeywordsBenign brainstem encephalitis Brainstem Children Gammaglobulins Magnetic resonance Miller Fisher syndrome CategoriesNeuropediatría

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Nota Clínica

Benign encephalitis of the brain stem