Basal Ganglia involvement in Wernicke encephalopathy: report of 2 cases

AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2011 Aug;32(7):E129-31. doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A2185. Epub 2010 Jul 15.

Abstract

We present the neuroimaging and clinical findings in 2 nonalcoholic adult patients with WE as assessed by MR imaging. The first patient presented with gait ataxia and changes in consciousness. MR imaging disclosed bilateral lesions in the dorsal striatum and cerebellum. None of the regions typically affected in WE were involved. The second patient showed symmetric lesions in the posterior putamen associated with the alterations frequently and infrequently found WE.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Basal Ganglia / pathology*
  • Cerebellum / pathology
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Malnutrition / complications*
  • Stomach Neoplasms / complications
  • Uterine Neoplasms / complications
  • Wernicke Encephalopathy / etiology
  • Wernicke Encephalopathy / pathology*