Avellis syndrome as presenting manifestation of ulcerative colitis

Abstract

We described a 41-year-old woman presenting with subacute onset of left hemihypesthesia, left facial palsy, dysphagia and dysgeusia. A cranial T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging revealed bilateral inhomogeneous medullary hyperintensities. The clinical manifestations conformed to Avellis syndrome, and were linked to the diagnosis of ulcerative colitis which was proved by serological findings and pathological evidence on rectosigmoid mucosa. She recovered favorably under conservative medical treatment with complete remission over one month of follow-up. Brainstem syndromes are rarely associated with neurological complications of ulcerative colitis and can be the presenting manifestation beyond gastrointestinal symptoms.