Rasmussen's encephalitis in a pediatric patient with subtle early MRI changes: A case report

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Pediatric Neurology
• Neuroinflammation

Background:

• Rasmussen's encephalitis (RE) is a progressive inflammatory neurological condition affecting children.
• Characterized by focal epilepsy, hemiplegia, cognitive decline, and unilateral brain atrophy.
• Diagnosis is challenging due to overlapping symptoms with other conditions, making MRI essential.

Observation:

• A 5-year-old female presented with subtle early cortical and white matter changes on MRI.
• Clinical presentation, electrographic findings, and neuroimaging were monitored for progression.
• The case highlights the diagnostic utility of correlating multiple data points.

Findings:

• Subtle early MRI findings can indicate Rasmussen's encephalitis.
• Progressive neuroimaging changes are characteristic of the disease.
• Multimodal diagnostic correlation is key for early and accurate RE diagnosis.

Implications:

• Early identification of Rasmussen's encephalitis is possible even with subtle initial signs.
• This case underscores the importance of integrating clinical, electrographic, and advanced imaging data.
• Improved diagnostic strategies can lead to timely intervention for pediatric neurological disorders.