The role of magnetic resonance imaging in the early diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic inflammation (CLIPPERS syndrome)

Abstract

Background: Chronic lymphocytic inflammation with perivascular contrast enhancement in the pons responsive to steroids (CLIPPERS) is a rare and relatively new pathology and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is highly important in its diagnosis. Clinical case description: The analysis of the MRI results revealed typical changes characteristic of CLIPPERS, such as contrast-positive small-point and curvilinear lesions of the pons, medulla oblongata and midbrain, as well as of the cerebral peduncles and cerebellum. In addition to the changes we described, according to the literature, lesions of the white matter of the large hemispheres and thalami may also be observed in the syndrome of chronic lymphocytic inflammation. Conclusion: MRI not only enables one to achieve high-quality neuroimaging of CLIPPERS, but also allows avoiding invasive, traumatic diagnostic methods.

Keywords

• clippers
• magnetic resonance imaging
• contrast-positive punctate lesion