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Updated: Apr 21, 2026
08:29
Symmetric Bihemispheric Postmortem Brain Cutting to Study Healthy and Pathological Brain Conditions in Humans
Published on: December 18, 2016
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[Rapidly progressive neurocognitive symptoms - consider rare aetiologies]
Janine Badertscher1,2, Gaby Schoch1, Robert Escher1
1Klinik für Allgemeine Innere Medizin, Spital Emmental, Burgdorf.
Praxis
|April 20, 2026
Summary
Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD) is a fatal prion disease with no cure. This study highlights the diagnostic challenges of sCJD, emphasizing its varied symptoms and the need for timely identification.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Prion Diseases
Background:
- Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD) is a fatal neurodegenerative prion disease.
- Currently, no effective cure exists for sCJD.
- Clinical presentation is highly variable, often mimicking other neurological disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the diagnostic challenges associated with sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
- To present a case series illustrating the heterogeneity of sCJD presentation.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of four sCJD cases diagnosed between 2014 and 2021.
- Review of clinical data, diagnostic workup, and outcomes.
Main Results:
- Cases presented with diverse neurological symptoms, including cognitive decline, ataxia, visual disturbances, extrapyramidal signs, and myoclonus.
- Diagnostic delays were noted due to the heterogeneous and non-specific initial symptoms.
Conclusions:
- Accurate and timely diagnosis of sCJD remains challenging due to its varied clinical manifestations.
- Increased awareness of sCJD's diverse presentations is crucial for prompt diagnosis and management.
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