title: Acute functional deterioration in a child with cerebral palsy.
abstract: We describe a case of acute functional deterioration in a 13-year-old girl with severe spastic diplegia (GMFCS III) and a new diagnosis of diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG). She presented with acute deterioration in mobility and motor function over 1 month, which was associated with dysarthria, dysphagia and behavioural change. Her mother had noticed subtle functional deterioration over the 2 months prior to this. Her physiotherapist who was concerned about her acute functional deterioration referred her for emergency review. Neurological imaging revealed a diffuse pontine lesion consistent with DIPG. She was subsequently referred to oncology. She deteriorated further, clinically, over the next few days and following discussion with the team; her family opted for palliative treatment, given the poor prognosis associated with DIPG.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Children's University Hospital, Dublin, Republic of Ireland.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Smyth
authors.forename: Chandrasekaran
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kaliaperumal
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leonard
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Caird
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000150:complications*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology