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[Clinical features of mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion in children]
Yin Liu1, Guang-Min Li, Shu-Hua Li
1Department of Pediatrics, Maternity and Children's Hospital, Tangshan, Hebei 063000, China. liuyin2002@126.com.
Objective:
To investigate the clinical features of mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion (MERS) in children.
Methods:
The clinical data of 8 children with MERS were retrospectively analyzed.
Results:
The mean age of onset was 5 years and 2 months (range 10 months to 12 years). The major clinical features included a history of prodromal infection, and among these children, 5 had pyrexia and 4 had vomiting. Of all the children, 6 were manifested as convulsion and 3 each were manifested as disturbance of consciousness and paroxysmal paropsia. Cranial diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed high signals in the splenium of the corpus callosum. Among these children, one child had symmetric and multiple long T1 and long T2 signals in the bilateral centrum semiovale and part of the temporal white matter. MRI reexamination performed after 5-30 days showed the disappearance of abnormal signals in all the children. The children were followed up for 3 months to 2 years, and no child experienced abnormal neurodevelopment.
Conclusions:
The development of MERS in children is closely associated with infection. MERS is characterized by high signals in the splenium of the corpus callosum on cranial diffusion-weighted MRI. Most children have good prognosis.
Insights
Mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion (MERS) in children is linked to infections. This condition shows specific MRI findings and typically has a good prognosis.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Neuroimaging
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion (MERS) is a distinct neurological condition observed in children.
- Understanding its clinical presentation and imaging characteristics is crucial for accurate diagnosis and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the clinical features of MERS in pediatric patients.
- To correlate clinical findings with neuroimaging results in MERS.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of clinical data from 8 children diagnosed with MERS.
- Cranial diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to identify characteristic lesions.
Main Results:
- The mean age of onset was 5 years and 2 months, with common symptoms including prodromal infection, pyrexia, vomiting, convulsions, and disturbance of consciousness.
- MRI revealed characteristic high signals in the splenium of the corpus callosum, which resolved upon follow-up.
- No adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes were observed during follow-up periods ranging from 3 months to 2 years.
Conclusions:
- MERS in children is strongly associated with preceding infections.
- Characteristic MRI findings of splenium corpus callosum lesions are key diagnostic markers.
- The prognosis for MERS in children is generally favorable, with reversible lesions and good neurodevelopmental outcomes.
