Basal ganglia lesions in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis

ABSTRACT The parieto-occipital region of the brain is the most frequently and severely affected in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE). The basal ganglia, cerebellum and corpus callosum are less commonly involved. We describe a patient with SSPE confirmed by neuropathology based on brain magn...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Kelson James Almeida, Sonia Maria Dozzi Brucki, Maria Irma Seixas Duarte, Carlos Augusto Gonçalves Pasqualucci, Sérgio Rosemberg, Ricardo Nitrini
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Associação Neurologia Cognitiva e do Comportamento
Series:Dementia & Neuropsychologia
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Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1980-57642012000400286&lng=en&tlng=en
Description
Summary:ABSTRACT The parieto-occipital region of the brain is the most frequently and severely affected in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE). The basal ganglia, cerebellum and corpus callosum are less commonly involved. We describe a patient with SSPE confirmed by neuropathology based on brain magnetic resonance imaging showing extensive basal ganglia involvement and no significant involvement of other cortical structures. Though rarely described in SSPE, clinicians should be aware of this involvement. SSPE should be kept in mind when changes in basal ganglia signal are seen on brain magnetic resonance imaging with or without involvement of other regions of the human brain to avoid erroneous etiological diagnosis of other pathologies causing rapidly progressive dementia.
ISSN:1980-5764