Atypical diffusion-restricted lesion in 5-Fluorouracil encephalopathy

AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2012 Aug;33(7):E102-3. doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A2781. Epub 2012 Mar 8.

Abstract

Central nervous system toxicity of 5-FU could show various manifestations, such as decreased alertness, disorientation, and agitation. It is generally accepted that lesions of 5-FU encephalopathy are mainly in the deep cerebral white matter and corpus callosum on MR imaging. Here we describe a case of 5-FU encephalopathy in gastric cancer with an atypical reversible diffusion-restricted lesion on MR imaging, showing bilateral basal ganglia, thalami, and parasagittal frontal cortex involvement on diffusion and T2-weighted imaging.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / adverse effects
  • Brain / drug effects*
  • Brain / pathology*
  • Brain Diseases / chemically induced*
  • Brain Diseases / pathology*
  • Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
  • Fluorouracil / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / adverse effects
  • Male
  • Middle Aged

Substances

  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Fluorouracil