Acute Marchiafava-Bignami disease with extensive diffusion restriction and early recovery: case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Marchiafava-Bignami disease (MBD) is a neurological disorder that has been found to be associated with chronic alcoholism and malnutrition. MBD classically results in acute edema and demyelination of the corpus callosum. Edema of the complete corpus callosum has been described to be an unfavorable prognostic factor. We present an acute onset of MBD with diffusion restriction of the complete corpus callosum and symmetric bilateral extension into the semioval center, that almost completely resolved clinically as well as in MRI only 3 days later. With early detection and treatment, the prognosis of MBD may be good even in cases with severe diffusion restriction of the complete corpus callosum.

Keywords: Marchiafava-Bignami disease; acute; magnetic resonance imaging.