Wernicke’s encephalopathy (WE) is a severe and life-threatening illness resulting from vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency. The prevalence of WE has been estimated from 0.4 to 2.8%. If not treated properly, severe neurologic disorders such as Korsakoff psychosis and even death may occur. The classical triad of clinical symptoms (abnormal mental state, ataxia, and ophthalmoplegia) is found in only 16–33% of patients on initial examination. The originally described underlying condition of WE is alcoholism, but it accounts for about 50% of causes of WE. Nonalcoholic patients are also affected by WE and likely to present symptoms and radiological imaging findings different from patients with alcoholism, which further complicates the diagnosis of WE. Being familiar with predisposing causes, symptoms and radiological imaging findings of WE is important for radiologists and clinicians when making the diagnosis to start immediate treatment. This review discusses pathophysiologies, underlying causes, clinical symptoms, imaging findings and their mimics.

中文翻译：

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Wernicke 脑病的综合回顾：病理生理学、临床症状和影像学发现。

韦尼克脑病 (WE) 是一种严重且危及生命的疾病，由维生素 B1（硫胺素）缺乏引起。WE 的患病率估计为 0.4% 至 2.8%。如果治疗不当，可能会发生严重的神经系统疾病，如 Korsakoff 精神病甚至死亡。临床症状的典型三联征（精神状态异常、共济失调和眼肌麻痹）仅见于 16-33% 的初始检查患者。最初描述的 WE 的潜在病症是酗酒，但它约占 WE 病因的 50%。非酒精性患者也受到 WE 的影响，并且可能出现与酒精中毒患者不同的症状和影像学检查结果，这进一步使 WE 的诊断复杂化。熟悉诱发因素，WE 的症状和影像学检查结果对于放射科医生和临床医生在做出诊断以开始立即治疗时很重要。本综述讨论了病理生理学、根本原因、临床症状、影像学发现及其模拟。