Wernicke’s Encephalopathy Following Gastrointestinal Surgery; MRI and DWI Findings

Betül Kızıldağ; Arzu Canan; Halil Murat Şen; Şükrü Taş; Öztekin Çıkman; Emine Dağıstan

doi:10.4274/tnd.16023

Betül Kızıldağ¹, Arzu Canan², Halil Murat Şen³, Şükrü Taş⁴, Öztekin Çıkman⁴, Emine Dağıstan²

¹Department Of Radiology, Onsekiz Mart University, Çanakkale
²Department Of Radiology, Abant İzzet Baysal University, Bolu
³Department Of Neurology, Onsekiz Mart University, Çanakkale
⁴Department Of Surgery, Onsekiz Mart University, Çanakkale

Keywords: Gastrointestinal surgery, magnetic resonance imaging, thiamine, Wernicke’s encephalopathy

Abstract

Wernicke’s encephalopathy (WE) is a neurologic disorder resulting from thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency and characterised by the ocular signs, altered consciousness, and ataxia. It is usually associated with chronic alcohol abuse. Recently, it could be a complication of bariatric surgery. The classical clinical triad occurs in a small group of patients, and early replacement of thiamine is an important prognostic factor. Hence, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is useful to support the diagnosis. In this case, we report MRI and diffusion weighted imaging findings of WE in a patient without history of alcoholism after gastrointestinal surgery.