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Case Reports
. 2024 Dec 4:39:e02124.
doi: 10.1016/j.idcr.2024.e02124. eCollection 2025.

An unusual case of varicella zoster encephalitis mimicking a glioblastoma on magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Brenden Nago  1   2 , Jeffrey E Liu  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

An unusual case of varicella zoster encephalitis mimicking a glioblastoma on magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Brenden Nago et al. IDCases. .

Erratum in

Abstract

The authors report a case of varicella zoster encephalitis, mimicking a glioblastoma on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS). The limitations of MRI/MRS, may lead to delayed treatment with antiviral agents, which can result in increased morbidity and mortality. The possibility of viral encephalitis should remain in the differential diagnosis of all patients presenting with headaches and confusion, even when imaging results are indicative of a neoplastic process.

Keywords: Corpus Callosum; Encephalitis; Varicella Zoster.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
T1 weighted MRI Brain post-gadolinium (axial) demonstrating enhancement of the corpus callosum.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
T2 weighted MRI Brain (sagittal) demonstrating hyperintensities in the splenium and body of the corpus callosum symmetrically extending into the posterior parietal-occipital lobes and with vasogenic edema.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
T2 weighted MRI Brain (sagittal) showing hemorrhagic necrosis involving the corpus callosum and posterior parietal-occipital white matter.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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