Abstract
In subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), conventional MRI findings have been reported. However, in the early clinical stages, imaging studies can appear normal. Moreover, with no history of infant measles infection, the diagnosis of SSPE can only be arrived at after extensive investigation that must eliminate a number of neurodegenerative diseases. We report here on 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG PET) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) findings in a 14-year-old girl with a normal initial MRI who had not contracted measles. Although 18F-FDG PET and MRS are not specific or diagnostic for SSPE, these techniques can demonstrate substantial metabolic impairments when MRI findings show no obvious abnormalities, as is often the case in the early stages of this disease.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anlar B, Yalaz K, Oktem F et al (1997) Long-term follow-up of patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis treated with intraventricular alpha-interferon. Neurology 48:526–528
Anlar B, Saatci I, Kose G et al (1996) MRI findings in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. Neurology 47:1278–1283
Yaqub B (1996) Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE): early diagnosis, prognostic factors and natural history. J Neurol Sci 139:227
Yanai K, Iinuma K, Tada K et al (1987) Regional cerebral metabolic rate for glucose in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. Eur J Pediatrics 146:288–289
Yanai K, Iinuma K, Matsuzawa T et al (1987) Cerebral glucose utilization in pediatric neurological disorders determined by positron emission tomography. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 13:292–296
Alkan A, Sarac K, Kutlu R et al (2003) Early and late-state subacute sclerosing panencephalitis: chemical shift imaging and single voxel MR spectroscopy. AJNR 24:501–506
Kato Z, Saito K, Yamada M et al (2002) Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in a case of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. J Child Neurol 17:788–790
Gascon GG (1996) Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. Sem Pediatr Neurol 3:260–269
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Seo, YS., Kim, HS. & Jung, DE. 18F-FDG PET and MRS of the early stages of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis in a child with a normal initial MRI. Pediatr Radiol 40, 1822–1825 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-010-1626-6
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-010-1626-6