Hypertensive Brainstem Encephalopathy with Extensive Supratentorial Involvement

Hypertensive brainstem encephalopathy is a rare variant of hypertensive encephalopathy. A 54-year-old female with chronic kidney disease visited our hospital because of comatose mentality. Her blood pressure was 256/206 mmHg. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed multifocal vasogenic edema in the brainstem, cerebellum, and bilateral cerebral cortical, subcortical, and deep nuclear areas. Her symptoms and radiological lesions improved when the blood pressure was decreased. This case demonstrates that these extensive lesions can be associated with an acute hypertensive crisis.