Atypical magnetic resonance imaging features in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis

• Published in: Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology
• Main Authors: Biplab Das, Manoj Kumar Goyal, Manish Modi, Sahil Mehta, Sudheer Chakravarthi, Vivek Lal, Sameer Vyas
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2016-01-01
• Subjects: Encephalitis; measles; myoclonic jerks; pial and gyral enhancement; subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE)
• Online Access: http://www.annalsofian.org/article.asp?issn=0972-2327;year=2016;volume=19;issue=2;spage=275;epage=276;aulast=Das
• ISSN: 0972-2327; 1998-3549

Objectives: Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is rare chronic, progressive encephalitis that affects primarily children and young adults, caused by a persistent infection with measles virus. No cure for SSPE exists, but the condition can be managed by medication if treatment is started at an early stage. Methods and Results: Heterogeneity of imaging findings in SSPE is not very uncommon. But pial and gyral enhancements are very rarely noticed. Significant asymmetric onset as well as pial-gyral enhancements is not reported. Herein we present a case of 16 years adolescent of SSPE having remarkable asymmetric pial-gyral enhancements, which were misinterpreted as tubercular infection. Conclusion: Early diagnosis and treatment is encouraging in SSPE, although it is not curable with current therapy. Clinico-radiological and electrophysiological correlation is very important in diagnosis of SSPE, more gravely in patients having atypical image findings as in our index case.