Paradoxical brain embolism associated with Kimura disease mimics watershed infarction

Kimura disease (KD) is an uncommon chronic inflammatory disease presenting as subcutaneous lymphadenopathy with eosinophilia. To date, only a single case of brain embolism caused by fibroblastic endocarditis associated with KD has been reported. Watershed infarction was seen in patients with episodes of severe hypotension or cardiac surgery. We here report a young case of KD who developed ischemic stroke and showed multiple small infarcts in the border zones between the territories of major cerebral arteries, mimicking watershed infarction. Transesophageal echocardiography revealed patent foramen ovale and atrial septal aneurysm. Concurrently, deep venous thrombus in the femoral vein was found on duplex ultrasonography. Our case supports the notion that paradoxical brain embolism associated with KD can cause multiple small embolisms and mimic watershed infarction.