Transient changes on brain magnetic resonance imaging in a patient with sturge-weber syndrome presenting with hemiparesis

BACKGROUND: Stroke-like episodes associated with Sturge-Weber Syndrome have previously been attributed to thrombosis within the leptomeningeal malformation causing infarction. CASE REPORT: A 22-year-old woman with a right-sided port-wine nevus presented with acute left hemiparesis. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated a vascular malformation of the right cerebral hemisphere consistent with Sturge-Weber Syndrome. There was mild edema of the right hemisphere cortex. While in hospital she developed recurrent complex partial seizures. Repeat brain MRI showed a diffusion abnormality affecting the right hemisphere with an increase in the degree of edema. There was no evidence of thrombosis on cerebral angiography. The patient s neurologic deficit and acute MRI changes subsequently resolved.