Autoimmune Encephalitis

Autoimmune Encephalitis

This cranial MRI is from a young woman who presented with low-grade fever, confusion, visual hallucinations and status epilepticus. Significant orofacial dyskinesias and autonomic dysfunction was also noted. Lumbar puncture was performed and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) revealed mild lymphocytic predominant leukocytosis and slightly elevated protein. CSF glucose was within normal range and CSF for microbiological…

Bickerstaff’s Encephalitis

Bickerstaff’s Encephalitis

A middle-aged woman was admitted with drowsiness, weakness of all four limbs and visual impairment. Physical examination revealed that the patient had bilateral complete ophthalmoplegia, generalized weakness and spasticity,with brisk reflexes and bilateral upgoing plantar reflexes. A hyper-intense lesion at the level of the midbrain  was noted on cerebral MRI (Figure 1). Cerebro-spinal fluid examination…

Hypertonia

Hypertonia

In this video, the examiner is testing the tone of the lower limbs. After ensuring that the patient is fully relaxed, he first of all rolls each leg using both hands – one placed above the knee and another below the knee. Then, the examiner lifts up each leg at the level of the popliteal fossa. Besides…

Clonus

Clonus

In this video, the presence of ankle clonus is being tested. Clonus is defined as a series of rhythmic, involuntary muscular contractions induced by sudden passive stretching of a muscle or tendon. To test for ankle clonus, the leg and foot should be relaxed and the knee and ankle placed in a slight flexed position….