Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy in a Patient with Multifocal Neurological Manifestations Caused by Solitary Brainstem Involvement

Overview

Journal Intern Med

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2022 Aug 9

PMID 35945023

Authors

Akito Funatsu

Kazuo Nakamichi

Midori Araki

Tetsuya Fukumoto

Hideki Mine

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

A Japanese man in his 60s on medication for chronic lymphocytic leukemia presented with progressive, multifocal neurological manifestations. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a small, solitary region of brainstem involvement. Sensitive real-time polymerase chain reaction testing detected a small amount of JC virus (JCV) DNA (170 copies/mL) with pathogenic mutation in cerebrospinal fluid. We diagnosed the patient with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). The small PML lesion may have caused multifocal neurological symptoms because of its focal brainstem involvement. This case contributes to knowledge regarding the diagnosis and treatment of brainstem PML in the context of hematologic malignancies and other underlying diseases.

Citing Articles

Performance of Ultrasensitive Polymerase Chain Reaction Testing for JC Polyomavirus in Cerebrospinal Fluid Compared with Pathological Diagnosis of Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy.

Takahashi K, Nakamichi K, Sato Y, Katano H, Hasegawa H, Saijo M Viruses. 2025; 16(12.

PMID: 39772255 PMC: 11680323. DOI: 10.3390/v16121950.

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