MRI Imaging of Osmotic Demyelination Syndrome Volume 12 - Issue 3

Lokesh Rana*¹, Dinesh Sood¹, Narvir Chauhan¹, Pooja Gurnal² and Manjuswamy²

• ¹Department of Radio-diagnosis, India
• ²Department of Anaesthesia, India

Received: December 11, 2018;   Published: December 19, 2018

*Corresponding author: Lokesh Rana, Assistant Professor, Department of Radio-diagnosis, India

DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2018.12.002246

Abstract PDF

Osmotic demyelination syndrome encompasses central pontine demyelination as well extrapontine demyelination and is seen in alcoholics and malnourished individuals associated with rapid correction of hyponatremia [1,2]. We present a case of 52 year old male presenting with weakness and dysarthria with characteristic MRI appearance [2].

Keywords: Osmotic; Pontine

We present a case of a 52 year old chronic alcoholic patient presented with history of weakness in limbs and dysarthria for 10 days. He was admitted in our institute with hypotension, so IV fluids were also rushed to him. MR Scan was done which shows central pontine T2W and FLAIR hyperintensities with sparing of peripheral fibres. No restriction seen on DWI, NO blooming seen on GRE and No post gadolinium enhancement seen. Diagnosis of Osmotic demyelination syndrome was made.

Osmotic demyelination syndrome encompasses central pontine demyelination as well extrapontine demyelination and is seen in alcoholics and malnourished individuals associated with rapid correction of hyponatremia [1-4].

Clinical Presentation

Patient presents with spastic paralysis, pseudo bulbar palsy and disorientation [5,6].

Key Imaging Diagnostic Clues

1) Symmetric central pontine T2W hyper intensity with sparing of periphery with trident shaped appearance [6,7].

2) Extra pontine sites commonly are basal ganglia and cerebral white matter [7,8].

Differentials

Pontine ischemia-Asymmetric involving central and peripheral pontine fibers [7,8].

Figure 1:

Demyelinating disease-look for lesion elsewhere, horse-shoe type in particular [1,8] (Figure 1).

Osmotic demyelination is common entity in alcoholics and malnourished individual. It is a treatable entity, so strong clinical suspicion and Typical diagnostic imaging feature on MR scan can lead to the diagnosis.

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