Improved neuroimaging findings and cognitive function in a case of high-altitude cerebral edema

Abstract

High-altitude cerebral edema (HACE) is a rare condition of acute mountain sickness that manifests as consciousness disturbance and truncal ataxia. Neuroimaging shows vasogenic edema with microbleeds in the white matter and the corpus callosum. We herein report a case of HACE in which the patient showed widespread hyperintense signals with extensive microbleeds in the white matter and corpus callosum on MRI, as well as cognitive dysfunction. Rehabilitation to improve the higher brain function facilitated the recovery of the patient's cognitive impairment and was accompanied by improved MRI findings.