Diagnostic Utility of Splenial Lesions in a Case of Legionnaires' Disease due to Legionella pneumophila Serogroup 2

Yuji Tomizawa; Yasunobu Hoshino; Fuyuko Sasaki; Naohide Kurita; Sumihiro Kawajiri; Kazuyuki Noda; Nobutaka Hattori; Junko Amemura-Maekawa; Fumiaki Kura; Yasuyuki Okuma

doi:10.2169/internalmedicine.54.4872

CASE REPORTS

Diagnostic Utility of Splenial Lesions in a Case of Legionnaires' Disease due to Legionella pneumophila Serogroup 2

Yuji Tomizawa, Yasunobu Hoshino, Fuyuko Sasaki, Naohide Kurita, Sumihiro Kawajiri, Kazuyuki Noda, Nobutaka Hattori, Junko Amemura-Maekawa, Fumiaki Kura, Yasuyuki Okuma

Author information

Yuji Tomizawa
Department of Neurology, Juntendo University Shizuoka Hospital, Japan
Yasunobu Hoshino
Department of Neurology, Juntendo University, School of Medicine, Japan
Fuyuko Sasaki
Department of Neurology, Juntendo University, School of Medicine, Japan
Naohide Kurita
Department of Neurology, Juntendo University, School of Medicine, Japan
Sumihiro Kawajiri
Department of Neurology, Juntendo University Shizuoka Hospital, Japan
Kazuyuki Noda
Department of Neurology, Juntendo University Shizuoka Hospital, Japan
Nobutaka Hattori
Department of Neurology, Juntendo University, School of Medicine, Japan
Junko Amemura-Maekawa
Department of Bacteriology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan
Fumiaki Kura
Department of Bacteriology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan
Yasuyuki Okuma
Department of Neurology, Juntendo University Shizuoka Hospital, Japan

Keywords: Legionella, Legionella pneumophila serogroup 2, clinically mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion, MERS, Legionnaires' disease

JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS

2015 Volume 54 Issue 23 Pages 3079-3082

DOI https://doi.org/10.2169/internalmedicine.54.4872

Details

Abstract

We herein report the case of a 49-year-old man with clinically mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion (MERS) associated with Legionnaires' disease due to Legionella pneumophila serogroup 2. Past reports suggest that Legionella infection is frequent in cases of MERS-associated pneumonia. Obtaining an early diagnosis of legionella infection is a challenge, especially if a Legionella pneumophila serogroup other than serogroup 1 contains the causative agent. In this case, the splenial lesion played an important role in recognizing the legionella infection. We suggest that legionella infection should be considered as a differential diagnosis in cases of splenial lesions associated with pneumonia.

Corresponding author