A 6-year old female child received succinylcholine (1 mg.kg-1) and isoflurane (concentrations of 1.5-2 percent) and developed at the end of surgery a hypermetabolic syndrome suggestive of malignant hyperthermia (MH) with masseter muscle spasm, muscle rigidity, tachypnea, systolic hypertension (140 mm Hg), tachycardia (205 beats.min-1), hypercarbia (end expiratory CO2 71 mmHg), and an increase in body temperature (39.2 degrees C). The child responded well to therapy which included cooling, hyperventilation with pure oxygen and dantrolene administration. However, blood creatine kinase and myoglobin elevations were moderate (respectively 375 IU.L-1 and 114 micrograms.L-1) and an in vitro halothane and caffeine contracture test was negative. Differential diagnostic proposals are discussed and compared to the clinical incident.