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Updated: Jun 2, 2026
09:46
Rat Model of Widespread Cerebral Cortical Demyelination Induced by an Intracerebral Injection of Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines
Published on: September 21, 2021
A case of multiple sclerosis presenting with inflammatory cortical demyelination
B F Gh Popescu1, R F Bunyan, J E Parisi
1Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
Neurology
|May 18, 2011
Summary
This case study details a patient with an early, active demyelinating lesion in the brain
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuroimmunology
- Pathology
Background:
- Solitary cortical lesions can present diagnostic challenges.
- Demyelinating diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, often manifest with white matter lesions.
- Cortical involvement in demyelination is less commonly described but significant.
Observation:
- A patient presented with an incidentally discovered, solitary cortical lesion showing gadolinium enhancement on MRI.
- Biopsy confirmed an active, inflammatory demyelinating lesion with lymphocytes and myelin-laden macrophages.
- The patient later developed disseminated white matter lesions typical of multiple sclerosis.
Findings:
- Pathological confirmation of active cortical demyelination in a solitary lesion.
- The initial presentation preceded the development of disseminated lesions.
- Cortical demyelination occurs within an inflammatory context.
Implications:
- This case supports the occurrence of inflammatory cortical demyelination in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.
- Highlights the importance of considering demyelinating disease in the differential diagnosis of solitary cortical enhancing lesions.
- Suggests that chronic cortical demyelination may appear noninflammatory due to long intervals between lesion formation and examination.
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