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Highlights • Mild encephalopathy with reversible splenium lesion (MERS) is a condition characterized by fever, encephalopathy, and a reversible splenium lesion on brain MRI. • MERS has been previously associated with viral infections, such as the influenza virus, and may result from an immune-mediated response to infection. • MERS has not previously been described in conjunction with COVID-19. • We present a case of a patient with MERS and positive SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, the first reported instance of this neurological complication to the virus. • MERS should be considered in a patient with the characteristic clinico-radiological syndrome and COVID-19 infection., Neurological complications of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) are common, and novel manifestations are increasingly being recognized. Mild encephalopathy with reversible splenium lesion (MERS) is a syndrome that has been associated with viral infections, but not previously with COVID-19. In this report, we describe the case of a 69 year-old man who presented with fever and encephalopathy in the setting of a diffusion-restricting splenium lesion, initially mimicking an ischemic stroke. A comprehensive infectious workup revealed positive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies, and a pro-inflammatory laboratory profile characteristic of COVID-19 infection. His symptoms resolved and the brain MRI findings completely normalized on repeat imaging, consistent with MERS. This case suggests that MERS may manifest as an autoimmune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection and should be considered in a patient with evidence of recent COVID-19 infection and the characteristic MERS clinico-radiological syndrome.

Key Clinical Message Our patient's clinical history and preoperative radiographic evaluation suggested central nervous system (CNS) metastatic disease. Ultimately, final pathology revealed epithelioid glioblastoma (eGBM), a newly classified CNS primary tumor. This reinforces the importance of direct tissue sampling and including eGBM on the differential for young patients with histories of systemic cancer presenting with new CNS lesions.

Bariatric surgery is an effective treatment for patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), a condition that is associated with skull base defects. A 55-year-old woman presented with symptoms of intractable nausea and vomiting, followed by headache and confusion two weeks after an elective laparoscopic vertical sleeve gastrectomy procedure. She had a presumed diagnosis of IIH and a remote history of CSF oto/rhinorrhea treated with a lumbar peritoneal (LP) shunt. Computed tomography (CT) scan of the head revealed tension pneumocephalus with midline shift and dehiscence of the tegmen. The patient underwent emergent craniotomy for decompression of the air-filled temporal lobe, clamping of the LP shunt, and repair of the skull base defect. Caution should be exercised in obese patients with a history of CSF leak secondary to a middle fossa skull base defect when being evaluated for bariatric surgery.

Central neurocytoma (CN) is a rare, benign brain tumor often located in the lateral ventricles. CN may cause obstructive hydrocephalus and manifest as signs of increased intracranial pressure. The goal of treatment for CN is a gross total resection (GTR), which often yields excellent prognosis with a very high rate of tumor control and survival. Adjuvant radiosurgery and radiotherapy may be considered to improve tumor control when GTR cannot be achieved. Chemotherapy is also not considered a primary treatment, but has been used as a salvage therapy. The radiological features of CN are indistinguishable from those of other brain tumors; therefore, many histological markers, such as synaptophysin, can be very useful for diagnosing CNs. Furthermore, the MIB-1 Labeling Index seems to be correlated with the prognosis of CN. We also discuss oncogenes associated with these elusive tumors. Further studies may improve our ability to accurately diagnose CNs and to design the optimal treatment regimens for patients with CNs.

Background: Controversy exists regarding the cortical representation of the foveal region in man. The most plausible explanation for foveal sparing in homonymous hemianopia is dual blood supply to the occipital pole. However, bilateral cortical representation has also been suggested. Objective: To determine the representation of the foveal region in the primary human visual cortex. Design: A case series correlating magnetic resonance imaging to the visual field defects of 6 patients with occipital lobe injuries. Results: Four patients with foveal-sparing hemianopic defects demonstrated unilateral sparing of the posterior occipital cortex. In contrast, 2 patients with central homonymous defects showed isolated involvement of the posterior pole. One patient also demonstrated 5° of field sparing along the horizontal meridian. Conclusions: On the basis of correlating the findings of magnetic resonance imaging and visual field defects in patients with occipital lobe injury, we conclude that the foveal region is unilaterally represented in the primary human visual cortex and that a major portion of the striate cortex is dedicated to the central 10° of vision. The horizontal meridian of the visual field is represented deep within the calcarine banks at the fissure base.