Background: Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is considered a benign entity and is usually reversible with only medical management, but persistent neurologic deficits and disability or death can occur without adequate treatment. Favorable outcomes have been associated with surgical decompression in malignant-type PRES in which hemorrhagic transformation or brain stem compression has developed.
Case description: Here we report a case of malignant PRES in a 61-year-old female of Asian descent in which the disease rapidly progressed to coma and a near-fatal condition with uncal herniation caused by severe brain edema; however, this patient achieved a dramatic recovery without surgical decompression.
Conclusion: After reviewing previous reports regarding malignant PRES, we propose that hemorrhagic transformation is a crucial indicator for surgical decompression and an important prognostic factor in malignant PRES.
Keywords: Brain edema; decompressive craniectomy; hemorrhagic transformation; malignant posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome; uncal herniation.