Yoshihisa Takiyama
Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences,
1110 Shimokato, Chuo-shi, Yamanashi 409-3898
Japan
Clinical image
Huge Brain Cystic Lesions Resulting from Metronidazole-Induced Encephalopathy
Author(s): Kishin Koh, Mai Tsuchiya, Ryusuke Takaki, Shinji Togashi, Takamura Nagasaka, Kazaumasa Shindo and Yoshihisa TakiyamaKishin Koh, Mai Tsuchiya, Ryusuke Takaki, Shinji Togashi, Takamura Nagasaka, Kazaumasa Shindo and Yoshihisa Takiyama
Metronidazole-induced encephalopathy (MIE) is a rare clinical condition resulting from long-term use of metronidazole. The symptoms and brain MRI changes in MIE usually resolve dramatically on discontinuation of treatment, and thus MIE with brain cystic lesions has rarely been reported. A 49-year-old woman was treated for a lumbar abscess with oral administration of 1.5 g/day of metronidazole for 4 months. Neurological examination revealed aphasia, apraxia, agraphia, cerebellar ataxia, and cognitive impairment. On brain MRI, diffusion-weighted imaging and the apparent diffusion coefficients were consistent with cytotoxic edema in the corpus callosum and subcortical white matter, representing delayed huge cystic lesions. Thus, we should be aware of MIE with irreversible brain lesions.
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