MRI findings in eastern equine encephalitis: the "parenthesis" sign

Joshua P Nickerson; Suma Kannabiran; Heather N Burbank

doi:10.1016/j.clinimag.2015.10.012

MRI findings in eastern equine encephalitis: the "parenthesis" sign

Clin Imaging. 2016 Mar-Apr;40(2):222-3. doi: 10.1016/j.clinimag.2015.10.012. Epub 2015 Oct 30.

Authors

Joshua P Nickerson¹, Suma Kannabiran², Heather N Burbank²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiology, University of Vermont Medical Center, 111 Colchester Avenue, Burlington VT 05401, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Department of Radiology, University of Vermont Medical Center, 111 Colchester Avenue, Burlington VT 05401, USA.

PMID: 26995574
DOI: 10.1016/j.clinimag.2015.10.012

Abstract

Two patients with eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) presented to a tertiary referral center. Both subjects' brain magnetic resonance imaging showed T2/FLAIR (fluid-attenuated inversion recovery) hyperintensities including linear areas of hyperintensity in the external and internal capsules with sparing of the lentiform nuclei. Single case reports of imaging findings in EEE exist with nonspecific patterns of abnormality. We propose that this "( ) parentheses sign" on T2 or FLAIR imaging may distinguish EEE from other processes.

Keywords: Eastern equine encephalitis; MRI; Parenthesis; Viral encephalitis.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Aged, 80 and over
Brain / pathology*
Encephalitis Virus, Eastern Equine / isolation & purification
Encephalomyelitis, Eastern Equine / diagnosis*
Encephalomyelitis, Eastern Equine / virology
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
Male
Middle Aged