title: Brainstem involvement in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.
abstract: The parieto-occipital region of the brain is most frequently and severely affected in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE). The basal ganglia, cerebellum and corpus callosum are less commonly involved. Brainstem involvement is rarely described in SSPE, and usually there is involvement of other regions of the brain. We describe a patient with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis with brain magnetic resonance imaging showing extensive brainstem involvement without significant involvement of other cortical structures. Though rarely described in SSPE, one should be aware of such brainstem and cerebellum involvement, and SSPE should be kept in mind when brainstem signal changes are seen in brain MRI with or without involvement of other regions of brain to avoid erroneous reporting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University, Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow, India.
authors.forename: Pawan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Dileep
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Maneesh Kumar
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Ravindra Kumar
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Garg
authors.forename: Neera
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kohli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004569:Electroencephalography; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D013344:Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology