Clinical Reasoning: A 40-Year-Old Woman Presenting With Encephalopathy and Paraparesis.

Abstract

Patients with acute to subacute multifocal neurologic abnormalities often have a unique presentation, and their diagnosis and management can be challenging. We present the case of a 40-year-old patient who presented with a 4-day history of confusion, bradyphrenia, right facial droop, bilateral lower limb weakness, urinary incontinence, and hypothermia. This case highlights the diagnostic approach to patients with subacute multifocal neurologic abnormalities, the importance of considering coexisting systemic illnesses in the diagnosis, and their management. Readers will explore the diagnostic steps our group has considered to reach our final diagnosis and the importance of management for our leading diagnosis.