The right scan at the right time: reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome mimicking bilateral occipital lobe infarcts

Reversible Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome (RPLS) is a relatively recently characterised neurological syndrome, first described by Hinchey et al in 1996, with neuroimaging findings of reversible vasogenic subcortical oedema. The clinical presentation can vary, is often non-specific but can include headache, global encephalopathy, seizures and visual disturbances. In this article we present such a case in a 79 year old woman, followed by a discussion of the typical presentations, associations, pathomechanisms and neuroimaging findings.