ObjectiveWe report a case of biopsy-proven giant cell arteritis after an initial presentation of area postrema syndrome.MethodsA 65-year-old man was evaluated using MRI, temporal artery biopsy, and ultrasound.ResultsThe patient presented with refractory nausea, vomiting, and hiccups that caused weight loss without any other neurologic or clinical symptoms. His MRI scan 15 days later revealed a hyperintense sign on the area postrema with no abnormal diffusion or contrast enhancement, compatible with isolated area postrema syndrome. An extensive workup for inflammation and other etiologies including neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody disorder, and multiple sclerosis (MS) showed negative results. The patient responded to treatment with methylprednisolone. Two months after the initial clinical manifestation, the patient developed fatigue, headache, and scalp tenderness. He was diagnosed with giant cell arteritis after ultrasonography and biopsy were performed. He responded well to oral glucocorticoids and had only 1 relapse during tapering. He has not had arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy or any new episodes of area postrema syndrome.DiscussionThis case demonstrates the importance of expanding the differential diagnosis in patients with area postrema syndrome and no other signs of NMOSD.
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Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by
Toxoplasma gondii
, an intracellular protozoan that is often associated with immunocompromised patients and is rare in immunocompetent. A 60-year-old man was admitted with a history of 2 days of headache and right-sided weakness. There was no history of fever, surgeries, or any other comorbid illness. Cerebrospinal fluid showed just mild pleocytosis with 15 cells/mm
3
, predominantly lymphomononuclear. MRI showed Peripheral enhancing lesion with central diffusion restriction and perivascular enhancing lesion with restricted diffusion with vasogenic edema and leptomeningeal enhancement in the white matter.
Viral serologies, tumor markers, protein electrophoresis were normal. The patient was submitted to brain biopsy, revealing necrotic brain parenchyma with predominantly acute inflammation, with diffuse encephalitis pattern, and cysts with bradyzoites (cystozoites) of
Toxoplasma gondii
in the brain parenchyma. The central nervous system infection by
Toxoplasma gondii
can present as meningoencephalitis during primary infection in an immunocompetent, although it is rare. Central nervous system lymphoma is the main differential diagnosis of neurotoxoplasmosis by imaging, especially in our case.
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