Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Q: What is Bickerstaff's brainstem encephalitis (BBE)?

Answer: Bickerstaff's brainstem encephalitis (BBE), is a variant of Guillain–Barré syndrome. It is characterized by acute onset of



  • ophthalmoplegia,

  • ataxia,

  • disturbance of consciousness,

  • hyperreflexia or Babinski's sign

The course of the disease can be monophasic or remitting-relapsing but despite severe initial presentation usually it has a good prognosis. MRI plays a critical role in the diagnosis of BBE, characterized by large, irregular hyperintense lesions located mainly in the brainstem, especially in the pons, midbrain and medulla.

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