Labrune Syndrome: A Rare Leukodystrophy

Labrune syndrome is a rare neurological disorder, with less than 100 reported cases since its identification. This disorder causes progressive cerebral degeneration. This case report describes a 21-year-old male patient who presented with tonic-clonic seizures. Upon examination, he was found to have symmetrical dense calcifications in the bilateral basal ganglia, thalami, and dentate nuclei, as well as in the white matter of both hemispheres, accompanied by cysts. MRI brain revealed confluent areas of T2/FLAIR hyperintensities involving the deep periventricular white matter in both cerebral hemispheres with sparing of subcortical U-fibres and two cysts in the left frontal and right posterior temporal region. No serologic evidence of a parasitic infection was found. Treatment was directed at addressing symptoms, and surgery was not required as the cysts were not causing a mass effect. The condition is the result of an autosomal mutation in the SNORD118 gene, a non-protein encoding gene that mediates rRNA synthesis.

Leukoencephalopathy with calcifications and cysts: A case report

RATIONALE

Leukoencephalopathy with calcifications and cysts (LCC) is an uncommon entity characterized by edematous leukoencephalopathy, cerebral calcifications, and parenchymal cysts. Due to its rarity, the clinical, radiological, and histopathological features have yet to be well elucidated.

PATIENT CONCERNS

The first case is a 35-year-old female who was asymptomatic. A giant intracranial cyst was incidentally detected radiologically, and it was slowly growing in the recent 10 years. The second case is a 20-year-old female who presented with a 1-month history of headache. Brain computed tomography showed multiple asymmetric calcifications in the bilateral basal ganglia and white matter. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a cyst in the right parietal lobe.

DIAGNOSES

They were diagnosed with LCC.

INTERVENTIONS AND OUTCOMES

The first patient underwent surgical resection of the intracranial cyst, and the second patient received a stereotactic biopsy. The patients performed well postoperatively.

LESSONS

LCC can be found at any age. A young age seems to be associated with severer symptoms. The clinical manifestations can be variable and aggressive. The potential pathogenic basis still needs further research.

A case of leukoencephalopathy, cerebral calcifications and cysts

Triad of leukoencephalopathy, cerebral calcifications and cysts (LCC) is a recently reported rare disease named ‘Labrune syndrome’ after the first case was reported in 1996 by Labrune et al. Herein, we report a case of a 36-year-old man with mild right-sided weakness and seizures for 5 years. CT of brain revealed extensive calcification involving bilateral basal ganglia, right thalamus and bilateral deep cerebellar nuclei. A supratentorial cystic lesion with blood fluid level was seen in left occipitotemporal region. MRI examination revealed diffuse symmetric white matter hyperintensity suggesting leukoencephalopathy. On follow-up, patient reported improvement in the weakness and no further seizure episodes. However, follow-up of MRI revealed persistence of lesions. Differential diagnosis considered were parasitic infections (hydatid, cysticercosis), Coat's plus disease and causes of diffuse cerebral calcification like Fahr's disease and post-radiotherapy/chemotherapy. Serology for parasitic infections was negative. No history of radiotherapy or chemotherapy in the past could be elicited in the history. Another close differential is Coat's plus disease which can mimic LCC pathologically.