Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome Induced by Spinal Computerized Tomography Contrast Agent: A Case Report

A 58-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital for vertigo and ataxia that had developed after a CT scan was taken for spinal surgery 3 months before admission. In the fluid-attenuated inversion recovery and T2 weighted brain MRI scans that were performed at admission, a wide, symmetrical multifocal lesion with a high intensity signal was observed in both brain hemispheres, the external capsules, thalamus, white matter and sub cortical white matter around the cerebral ventricle of the frontal, parietal and temporal lobes. MRI taken at the time of disease onset, three months prior to the visit, confirmed the presence of mild posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome. The patient was then admitted to the hospital for conservative treatment and later discharged. One month later, a follow-up brain MRI showed a slight decrease in signal intensity with a particularly more decrease at the brainstem. Hence, this case is reported to be a result of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome that occurred after the use of the CT contrast agent.