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

Intern Med. 2015;54(23):3079-82. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.54.4872. Epub 2015 Dec 1.

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.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Corpus Callosum / pathology*
  • Encephalitis / etiology
  • Humans
  • Legionella pneumophila / isolation & purification*
  • Legionnaires' Disease / complications
  • Legionnaires' Disease / diagnosis*
  • Legionnaires' Disease / pathology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged