J Korean Neurol Assoc.  2016 Aug;34(3):235-238. 10.17340/jkna.2016.3.14.

Nonalcoholic Wernicke's Encephalopathy With Diffuse Cortical Involvement

• Sung W
• Park S
• Jeong YC
• Han SG
• Kim HY
• Kim HT
• Kim J
• Kim YS

• KMID: 2345251
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.17340/jkna.2016.3.14

Abstract

Wernicke's encephalopathy is an acute neurological deterioration due to a reversible brain lesion caused by thiamine deficiency. Most of the affected patients are thiamine-depleted alcoholics, and the condition usually involves the medial thalami, mammillary bodies, and periaqueductal area. However, there are rare reports of lesions in the cerebellum and cerebral cortex, especially in patients with nonalcoholic Wernicke's encephalopathy. We report a case of nonalcoholic Wernicke's encephalopathy involving atypical diffuse cortical regions, and review previously reported cases.

Keyword

Wernicke's encephalopathy; Cortical involvement; Review

MeSH Terms

Alcoholics
Brain
Cerebellum
Cerebral Cortex
Humans
Mammillary Bodies
Thiamine Deficiency
Wernicke Encephalopathy*