Res Vestib Sci.  2017 Dec;16(4):167-170. 10.21790/rvs.2017.16.4.167.

Post Infectious Cerebellar Ataxia with Abnormal Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography Findings

• Rha HJ
• Park JH

• KMID: 2400997
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.21790/rvs.2017.16.4.167

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.

Keyword

Cerebellar ataxia; Brain magnetic resonance image; Single photon emission computed tomography

MeSH Terms

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*
Methylprednisolone