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| NEUROIMAGES |
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| Year : 2016 | Volume
: 64
| Issue : 6 | Page : 1374-1376 |
Headphone sign: Metronidazole-induced encephalopathy
Yeeshu S Sudan, Arun Garg, Rajiv Gupta, Atma R Bansal
Department of Neurosciences and Radiology, Medanta – The Medicity, Gurgaon, Haryana, India
| Date of Web Publication | 11-Nov-2016 |
Correspondence Address:
Arun Garg
Department of Neurosciences and Radiology, Medanta – The Medicity, Gurgaon, Haryana
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0028-3886.193788
How to cite this article:
Sudan YS, Garg A, Gupta R, Bansal AR. Headphone sign: Metronidazole-induced encephalopathy. Neurol India 2016;64:1374-6 |
Sir,
A 14-year-old boy presented with altered sensorium, slurred speech, seizures, and weakness of all four limbs for the last 2 days. There was history of acute pain in the abdomen, for which he was put on metronidazole for 5 days prior to presenting to us. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain revealed symmetrical T2 hyperintense and T1 hypointense lesions involving the optic tracts, dorsal midbrain, peri-aqueductal white matter, superior and inferior colliculi, superior cerebellar peduncle, dentate nuclei, and medulla oblongata extending upto the cervicomedullary junction. A small focal lesion showing diffusion restriction was noted in the splenium of the corpus callosum [Figure 1] and [Figure 2]. The bilateral inferior olivary nuclei appeared bulky with T2 hyperintensity [Figure 3]. MRI T2 flair axial view at the brain stem level showed involvement of the dentate nuclei typically looking like a “head phone” [Figure 1]a and [Figure 1]b. Confluent nonenhancing intramedullary long segment T2 hyperintense lesion was seen in the cervical spinal cord extending from the cervicomedullary junction upto C6-C7 level [Figure 4]. A diagnosis of metronidazole-induced encephalopathy was made; metronidazole was withdrawn and the patient was managed conservatively. He showed a good recovery by the end of three months. | Figure 1: (a and b) Diffusion-weighted images and apparent diffusion coefficient maps of the brain revealing restricted diffusion involving bilateral dentate nuclei and dorsal pons demonstrating the “headphone sign”
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 | Figure 2: Axial fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) images of the brain revealing bilateral symmetrical FLAIR hyperintense lesions involving the optic tract, dorsal midbrain colliculi and peri-aqueductal white matter
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 | Figure 3: (a and b) Axial T2 and post contrast T1-weighted images of the brain revealing hypertrophied and swollen bilateral inferior olivary nuclei showing postcontrast enhancement
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 | Figure 4: T2 sagittal images of the cervical spine revealing long-segment intramedullary T2 hyper intensity extending from the brainstem till C6-C7 vertebral level
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Rising prevalence of Clostridium difficile infection and recurrence increases the likelihood of prolonged metronidazole use.[1],[2] Few cases of prolonged intake of metronidazole with metronidazole induced encephalopathy and classical MRI changes involving both the dentate nuclei of cerebellum and splenium of corpus callosum have been reported in past.[3] Differential diagnosis includes maple syrup urine disease, Leigh syndrome, methyl bromide intoxication and enteroviral encephalomyelitis.[4] Our case is unique in that it occurred in the pediatric population after a short course of metranidazole, MRI showed the classical picture of “headphone sign” and a lesion was also noted in the cervical cord.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
| » References | |  |
| 1. | Leong C, Zelenitsky S. Treatment strategies for recurrent Clostridium difficile infection. Can J Hosp Pharm 2013;66:361-8.  |
| 2. | Dubberke ER, Olsen MA. Burden of Clostridium difficile on the healthcare system. Clin Infect Dis 2012;55:S88-92. |
| 3. | Chakrabarti S, Pan K. Metronidazole-induced encephalopathy: An uncommon scenario. N Z Med J 2014;127:120-2. |
| 4. | Godfrey MS, Finn A, Zainah H, Dapaah-Afriyie K. Metronidazole induced encephalopathy after prolonged metronidazole course for treatment of C. difficile colitis. BMJ Case Rep 2015;pii:Bcr2014206162. |
[Figure 1], [Figure 2], [Figure 3], [Figure 4]
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