title: Proton MR spectroscopy in the diagnosis of early-stage subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.
abstract: Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a progressive, fatal neurological disorder of childhood and early adolescence. In this report, we present brain magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and conventional magnetic resonance MR imaging findings of early-stage (stage II) SSPE in an 8-year-old child. MRS demonstrated increased myo-inositol/creatine and choline/creatine ratios, and a decreased N-acetyl aspartate/creatine ratio. Conventional MR imaging demonstrated nonspecific, patchy T2 hyperintensities in the periventricular white matter and a nonspecific focus of T2 hyperintensity in the right frontal subcortical white matter. The MRS findings suggested active inflammation and demyelination as is seen in early-stage SSPE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Başkent University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. mehmett@baskent-ank.edu.tr
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tekşam
authors.forename: Banu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cakir
authors.forename: Ahmet Muhteşem
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ağildere
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D013344:Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis / Q000473:pathology*