A Case of Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis: A Myriad of Masquerades on Neuroimaging

Abstract

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a neurodegenerative disease caused by persisting measles virus (MeV) in the central nervous tissue of the patients. About one in ten thousand children who contract the infection in early childhood develop SSPE. Fulminant SSPE is a rare disease with fatal consequences. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can help in making a diagnosis, but all the possible changes encompassing all stages and their correlation with severity are yet to be described. We report a case of fulminant SSPE with unusual findings on MRI, which led to great difficulty and delay in making the correct diagnosis.