Diffusion weighted imaging of cerebellar lesions in Wernicke's encephalopathy

J Neuroradiol. 2006 Apr;33(2):126-8. doi: 10.1016/s0150-9861(06)77243-1.

Abstract

We report unusual findings on MR imaging in a 62-year-old woman with Wernicke's encephalopathy (WE). Initial fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) and diffusion weighted MR imaging (DW-MRI) showed hyperintense lesions in the cerebellum and medial thalami, with a decreased apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in the cerebellum (reduced by 45%). After thiamine supplementation, the T2 and diffusion hyperintensities disappeared. However, clinical examination at three months showed persistent cerebellar impairment. The importance of the ADC values should be further investigated.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Cerebellar Diseases / drug therapy
  • Cerebellar Diseases / pathology*
  • Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Thiamine / therapeutic use
  • Wernicke Encephalopathy / drug therapy
  • Wernicke Encephalopathy / pathology*

Substances

  • Thiamine