Case report and literature review: A hiccup patient developed encephalitis and duodenal perforation.

Brainstem encephalitis is rare and this study aims to report the clinical course, imaging features, and therapeutic response of hiccup patient with gastric ulcer who developed brainstem encephalitis with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) detected in cerebrospinal fluid and then subsequently followed by development of duodenal perforation. Data of a gastric ulcer patient who suffered from hiccups, with brainstem encephalitis detected and then subsequently suffered from duodenal perforation were collected retrospectively and analyzed. A literature search was conducted on Epstein-Barr virus associated encephalitis using keywords like "Epstein-Barr virus encephalitis" and "brainstem encephalitis," "hiccup." The etiology of EBV-related brainstem encephalitis in this case report is not clear. However, from the initial hiccup to the presentation of both brainstem encephalitis and duodenal perforation during the course of hospitalizations builds up an uncommon case.