Reversible Cerebral Vasoconstriction Syndrome without Headache That Was Initially Suspected of Being Primary Angiitis of the Central Nervous System

Intern Med. 2021 Jul 15;60(14):2321-2326. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.6560-20. Epub 2021 Feb 22.

Abstract

A 48-year-old man had convulsions, and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) showed diffuse constriction of the cerebral arteries. He was suspected of having primary angiitis of the central nervous system (PACNS) and treated with steroid for three days. The MRA abnormality disappeared after a week. After 69 days, he developed dizziness, and MRA revealed recurrence of cerebral artery stenosis. Nevertheless, the symptoms and abnormal MRA findings recovered promptly without treatment. He was diagnosed with reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) without headache. This case suggests that RCVS should be a differential diagnosis in patients without headache whose MRA findings show multiple cerebral artery stenosis.

Keywords: headache; magnetic resonance angiography; primary angiitis of the central nervous system; reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Cerebrovascular Disorders*
  • Headache / etiology
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Angiography
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Vasculitis, Central Nervous System* / diagnostic imaging
  • Vasoconstriction
  • Vasospasm, Intracranial* / diagnostic imaging

Supplementary concepts

  • Primary angiitis of the central nervous system