Focal encephalitis following varicella-zoster virus reactivation without rash in a healthy immunized young adult.

ABSTRACT: Herein we describe an episode of focal varicella-zoster virus (VZV) encephalitis in a healthy young man with neither rash nor radicular pain. The symptoms began with headaches and seizures, after which magnetic resonance imaging detected a single hyperintense lesion in the left temporal lobe. Because of the provisional diagnosis of a brain tumor, the lesion was excised and submitted for pathological examination. No tumor was found. But the tissue immunostained positively for VZV antigens, and wild-type VZV sequences were detected. In short, this case represents VZV reactivation, most likely in the trigeminal ganglion, in the absence of clinical herpes zoster.

SUBMITTER: Halling G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4202304 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature