Wernicke encephalopathy: Unusual findings in nonalcoholic patients

We report the unique findings on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in two cases of diet-related Wernicke encephalopathy (WE). There was no relation to alcohol in either case. The first patient presented with seizures and showed changes of WE on diffusion-weighted MRI with involvement of the motor strip. The second case illustrates extensive changes in the thalamus caused by WE, resulting in obstructive hydrocephalus requiring shunting.