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Magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities with septic encephalopathy
1Departments of Neurology and Pathology, Hartford Hospital, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Hartford 06102-5037, USA. Pfinell@harthosp.org
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
|July 20, 2004
Summary
Septic encephalopathy can cause widespread brain abnormalities, even in transplant patients. Postmortem imaging revealed characteristic changes in the basal ganglia, thalamus, cerebellum, brainstem, and cerebrum.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Nephrology
- Radiology
Background:
- Septic encephalopathy is a serious complication of infection.
- Renal transplant recipients may have unique presentations of neurological disorders.
Observation:
- A 48-year-old female renal transplant recipient presented with fever, seizures, and coma.
- Neuroimaging demonstrated extensive abnormalities throughout the brain.
Findings:
- Postmortem examination confirmed septic encephalopathy as the cause of death.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed bilateral abnormalities in the basal ganglia, thalamus, cerebellum, brainstem, and cerebral hemispheres.
Implications:
- This case highlights the diverse neuroimaging findings in septic encephalopathy.
- Understanding these patterns is crucial for diagnosing and managing neurological complications in immunocompromised patients.
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