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Sporadic Creutzfeldt-jakob disease: a case report
Li Xie1, Yanhong Dong2, Guoen Yao3
1Department of Neurology, The Fourth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100048, China. x15633532872@163.com.
Journal of Medical Case Reports
|July 14, 2026
Summary
Dizziness can be an early symptom of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), a rare neurodegenerative disorder. This case highlights the importance of brain MRI in diagnosing CJD, even with atypical initial presentations.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuroscience
- Rare Diseases
Background:
- Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a rare, fatal prion disease affecting the central nervous system.
- Typical CJD symptoms include dementia, visual impairment, ataxia, and myoclonus.
- Dizziness is common but rarely an initial symptom of CJD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report a case of CJD presenting with dizziness as an initial symptom.
- To emphasize the diagnostic utility of neuroimaging in atypical CJD cases.
Main Methods:
- Case report of a 71-year-old woman presenting with dizziness.
- Diagnostic workup included brain MRI and cerebrospinal fluid analysis.
- Findings supported a diagnosis of possible sporadic CJD.
Main Results:
- Brain MRI showed extensive cortical hyperintensity on diffusion-weighted imaging.
- Cerebrospinal fluid analysis was positive for the 14-3-3 protein.
- The patient was diagnosed with possible sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
Conclusions:
- Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease can present atypically with dizziness.
- Brain MRI is crucial for diagnosing CJD, especially in unusual presentations.
- Reporting such cases enhances clinical understanding of CJD's heterogeneity.
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