title: Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis: A clinical and neuroradiological profile of pediatric patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To discuss the clinical and neuroradiological profile of pediatric patients with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM).
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective observational study Settings: Children with clinico-radiological diagnosis of ADEM admitted in the pediatric ward of the Institute of Child Health between July 2009 to Sepetember 2014 were included.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical and neuroradiological parameters of children suffering from ADEM were noted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 36 children were included in the study, among whom approximately 50% had a history of either a preceding viral infection or the administration of a vaccination; and, 92% of them presented with some form of neurological deficits. Encephalopathy was present in 92% children at the time of admission. Seizures were present in 42% of children. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) study was non-contributory and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was diagnostic in most of the cases. The lesions were usually asymmetrically placed. All of them were treated with steroids and had a good prognosis, with complete neurological recovery in 75% of the children.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although it is perceived as a rare disease, ADEM is fairly common in the pediatric population, Most often, it is misdiagnosed as a meningoencephalitis. An early neuroradiological identification of the demyelinating lesions and treatment with steroid therapy leads to an excellent outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Child Health, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Prabhas Prasun
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Giri
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Child Health, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Sukanta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhattyacharya
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Radiology and Imaging, Institute of Child Health, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Dipankar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Das
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Neurology, Institute of Child Health, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Swapan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mukhopadhaya
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D004673:Encephalomyelitis, Acute Disseminated / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male