MRI OF ACUTE DISSEMINATED ENCEPHALOMYELITIS AFTER COXSACKIE-B INFECTION

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is a rare demyelinating co ndition of the central nervous system, usually developing after a vira l infection or vaccination. We report a case of ADEM predominantly aff ecting the spinal cord in an 8-year old boy evaluated by MRI. The radi ographic picture consisted of multiple focal lesions of the spinal cor d, a left posterior thalamic lesion and a subcortical right posterior parietal lesion. These lesions regressed several weeks after corticost eroid treatment. The clinical presentation, the laboratory results and the radiological findings suggest the diagnosis of ADEM secondary to viral infection by Coxsackie B.