Research in Vestibular Science

Case Report

Post Infectious Cerebellar Ataxia with Abnormal Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography Findings: Hae Joo Rha, Jae Han Park; Res Vestib Sci. 2017;16(4):167-170. Published online December 15, 2017; DOI: https://doi.org/10.21790/rvs.2017.16.4.167

Abstract PDF: A 84-year-old woman presented with a two weeks history of dizziness, slurred speech and ataxia. The neurological exam showed spontaneous left beating nystagmus, horizontal gaze evoked nystagmus and limb ataxia. A few weeks earlier, she had an upper airway infection. Brain MRI revealed diffuse leptomeningeal enhancement in the both cerebellar hemisphere and brain single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) showed hyperperfusion in both cerebellar hemisphere. Extensive laboratory studies with cerebrospinal fluid analysis did not reveal any etiologic factors. She was started on methylprednisolone (1 g/day for 7 days), gradually improved over the weeks. Post infectious cerebellar ataxia is a neurologic complication that occasionally follows systemic viral and bacterial infections. This case demonstrates that cerebellar abnormalities can be detected by brain magnetic resonance imaging and SPECT.

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