MR imaging, diffusion-weighted imaging and MR spectroscopy findings in acute rapidly progressive subacute sclerosing panencephalitis

Brain Dev. 2007 Jun;29(5):306-11. doi: 10.1016/j.braindev.2006.09.013. Epub 2006 Nov 13.

Abstract

We are presenting two cases with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis of acute and rapid form, which were initially diagnosed as acute viral encephalitis. We obtained both diffusion-weighted imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy, whose findings suggested the presence of acute inflammatory and metabolic changes with peculiar distribution, which were not observed on conventional MR imaging. These techniques might help to demonstrate the extent and progression of the panencephalitis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anticonvulsants / therapeutic use
  • Brain / pathology
  • Child
  • Clonazepam / therapeutic use
  • Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Electroencephalography
  • Heart Arrest / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / therapeutic use
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Male
  • Membranes / pathology
  • Respiration, Artificial
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Seizures / etiology
  • Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis / metabolism*
  • Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis / pathology*

Substances

  • Anticonvulsants
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous
  • Clonazepam