ΣΤΕΛΕΧΙΑΙΑ ΕΓΚΕΦΑΛΙΤΙΔΑ : ΣΥΝΤΟΜΗ ΑΝΑΣΚΟΠΗΣΗ

Abstract

Brainstem encephalitis refers to inflammatory lesions located in the area of the midbrain, pons and medulla obloganta. It is without any doubt, that the brainstem may often be affected in the context of a widespread CNS inflammatory process, however there are cases in which there is prominent or even isolated brainstem involvement. The aetiology of a brainstem encephalitis is variable. The possible causes may involve a wide range of infectious, autoimmune, paraneoplastic and demyelinating diseases, while both imaging and CSF findings are often variable and non- specific, which sometimes makes aetiological investigation challenging. The most frequently associated antibodies with paraneoplastic brainstem encephalitis, are anti-Hu, anti-Ma2 and anti-Ri. As far as infectious agents are concerned, the most common is listeria infection, as well as infections of herpesviruses and enteroviruses. Among the systemic autoimmune diseases, neuro-Bechét is more likely to exclusively affect the brainstem. Bickerstaff encephalitis and Clippers syndrome are inflammatory conditions with characteristic involvement of the brainstem. Among the demyelinating diseases, Neuromyelitis Optica and Multiple Sclerosis, more rarely, can sometimes cause lesions that are limited to the brainstem. The prognosis depends highly on the causative agent and the timely treatment.