A 20-year-old, previously-healthy woman presented with progressive tetraparesis, multiple
cranial nerve involvement and pseudobulbar affect over three weeks. Brain MRI revealed
a unique edematous brainstem lesion with peripheral gadolinium enhancement ([Figure 1]). She was treated with long-term antibiotics (21 days of ampicillin and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim)
and high-dose intravenous corticosteroids. Oral prednisone was slowly tapered with
full clinical recovery and resolution of the lesion after five months ([Figure 2]).
Figure 1 Brain MRI. (A) Axial T2 weighted and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR)
(B) images demonstrating a hyperintense brainstem lesion with increased signal in
diffusion-weighted image (DWI) (C). Coronal T1 weighted post-gadolinium image (D)
show mild peripheral enhancement.
Figure 2 Brain MRI after treatment. Axial T2 weighted (A), FLAIR (B) and DWI (C) sequences
demonstrate almost complete resolution of the brainstem lesion. Axial T2 weighted
image shows discrete hyperintense lesion (A) without gadolinium enhancement (D).
Idiopathic inflammatory central nervous system disease and neuroinfection are the
major differential diagnoses for isolated rhombencephalitis, especially Listeria[1]. Despite the severity, patients may have full recovery if managed properly.
