Transient splenial DWI abnormality of the corpus callosum during a stroke-like episode

Anne-Laure Bocher1, Sabine Caron, Charlotte Cordonnier

  • 1Department of Neurology, Hôpital Salengro, Lille University Hospital, Lille, France.

Insights

Focal corpus callosum abnormalities can mimic stroke. A patient with Klebsiella pneumoniae sepsis experienced a stroke-like episode due to inflammation, not infarction.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Radiology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Focal corpus callosum abnormalities are uncommon but recognized in diverse clinical contexts.
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings can resemble acute ischemic stroke, necessitating careful differential diagnosis.

Observation:

  • A patient presented with a clinical episode mimicking stroke.
  • The patient had sepsis caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae infection.

Findings:

  • Transient diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) hypersignal and decreased apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were observed in the corpus callosum.
  • These imaging findings in the corpus callosum were associated with sepsis.

Implications:

  • The observed corpus callosum changes represent a potential stroke mimic.
  • Recognition of this inflammatory process is crucial for appropriate patient management and therapeutic decisions.

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