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Bickerstaff encephalitis

Dr Frank Gaillard et al.

Bickerstaff encephalitis is a rare immune mediated condition seen in the setting of varicella zoster virus and cytomegalovirus infections. It transiently involves the brainstem and basal ganglia and is characterised on MRI by regions of high T2 signal with little if any enhancement. Typically these regions also demonstrate some minor restricted diffusion ¹.