title: How MRI can contribute to the diagnosis of acute demyelinating encephalomyelitis in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To illustrate through 10 pediatric cases, the clinical features, course, and importance of neuroimaging (especially MRI) in guiding the diagnosis of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) and controlling patients after treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of 10 pediatric cases of ADEM, with special regard to the MRI features, presenting to the Pediatric Departments, Hedi Chaker Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia between January 2002 and December 2008.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children with ADEM presented with variable and multiple neurological signs most often occurring after an infectious episode, especially after upper respiratory tract infection. The MRI permitted confirmation of the diagnosis by showing demyelinating lesions either in the brainstem, the cerebellum, the cerebral white and grey matter, or in the spine of all patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis is characterized by multifocal demyelinating lesions resulting in varied neurological signs. The MRI is the technique of choice to show these lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Hedi Chaker Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia. emna.daoud@tunet.tn
authors.forename: Emna
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Daoud
authors.forename: Imen
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Chabchoub
authors.forename: Henda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Neji
authors.forename: Nozha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Toumi
authors.forename: Rim B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Abdallah
authors.forename: Hajer
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aloulou
authors.forename: Fatma
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kammoun
authors.forename: Abdelmajid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mahfoudh
authors.forename: Mongia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hachicha
authors.forename: Jamel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mnif
authors.forename: Kheireddine B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Mahfoudh
authors.forename: Zeineb
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mnif
mesh_terms: D000212:Acyclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004673:Encephalomyelitis, Acute Disseminated / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000212:Acyclovir