Microangiopathy of brain, retina, and inner ear (Susac's syndrome) in an adolescent female presenting as acute disseminated encephalomyelitis

Abstract

Susac's syndrome is a rare disorder that consists of microangiopathy of the brain, retina, and inner ear and usually affects young women in young adulthood. The triad of clinical manifestations consists of acute encephalopathy with neurologic signs, branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO), and sensorineural hearing loss. We present a case of an adolescent female who presented at age 16 years with clinical and neuroimaging features of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM). The full triad did not develop until 2.5 years after the initial neurologic presentation.