Herpes trigeminal neuritis and rhombencephalitis

Case contributed by Chris O'Donnell , 14 Oct 2016
Diagnosis almost certain
Changed by Henry Knipe, 15 Oct 2016

Updates to Case Attributes

Title was changed:
Herpes trigeminal neuritis and rhomboencephalitisrhombencephalitis
Presentation was changed:
Has had recent cold sores around left oral cavity and for last 6 days, pain and altered sensation in the left side of face.
Suitable For Quiz was set to .
Body was changed:

The Herpes simplex type 1 virus resides in the Vth nerve Gasserian ganglonganglion and can present intermittently as so-called cold sores or apthous ulcers around the lips and mouth.  Rarely Rarely it can pass retrogradely into the brain stembrainstem via the root entry zone to produce a rhomboencephalitisrhombencephalitis as in this case leading to marked (V1, 2 and 3 sensory symptoms).  MRI MRI features are of focal inflammation and disruption to blood-brain and blood-cranial nerve barrier (Gd-enhancement).  ItIt is usually self-limiting and should not be confused with acute demyelination.  Involvement Involvement of the Vth cranial nerve is key to this differentiation.  The The rapidity of onset, presence of cold sores and absence of cancer history discriminate from perineural spread of head and neck neoplasm.

  • -<p>The Herpes simplex type 1 virus resides in the Vth nerve Gasserian ganglon and can present intermittently as so-called cold sores or apthous ulcers around the lips and mouth.  Rarely it can pass retrogradely into the brain stem via the root entry zone to produce a rhomboencephalitis as in this case leading to marked (V1, 2 and 3 sensory symptoms).  MRI features are of focal inflammation and disruption to blood-brain and blood-cranial nerve barrier (Gd-enhancement).  It is usually self-limiting and should not be confused with acute demyelination.  Involvement of the Vth cranial nerve is key to this differentiation.  The rapidity of onset, presence of cold sores and absence of cancer history discriminate from perineural spread of head and neck neoplasm.</p>
  • +<p>Herpes simplex type 1 virus resides in the Vth nerve Gasserian ganglion and can present intermittently as so-called cold sores or apthous ulcers around the lips and mouth. Rarely it can pass retrogradely into the brainstem via the root entry zone to produce a rhombencephalitis as in this case leading to marked (V1, 2 and 3 sensory symptoms). MRI features are of focal inflammation and disruption to blood-brain and blood-cranial nerve barrier (Gd-enhancement). It is usually self-limiting and should not be confused with acute demyelination. Involvement of the Vth cranial nerve is key to this differentiation. The rapidity of onset, presence of cold sores and absence of cancer history discriminate from perineural spread of head and neck neoplasm.</p>

References changed:

  • Tien RD, Dillon WP. Herpes trigeminal neuritis and rhombencephalitis on Gd-DTPA-enhanced MR imaging. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 1990;11 (2): 413-4. <a href="http://www.ajnr.org/content/11/2/413">AJNR Am J Neuroradiol (citation)</a> - <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2107732">Pubmed citation</a><span class="auto"></span>
  • http://www.ajnr.org/content/11/2/413.full.pdf

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