A case of Rasmussen's encephalitis with an atypical presentation

Abstract

Rasmussen's encephalitis (RE) is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by unilateral inflammation of the cerebral cortex leading to severe focal seizures, progressive loss of cognition, and neurological deficits in the affected hemisphere. We present a rare case of RE in a child with global developmental delay and cerebral atrophy. Neuroimaging helped in clinching the diagnosis of the disease. Immunomodulators may slow the progression of the disease; hence, it needs to be identified early and treated promptly. Functional cerebral hemispherectomy is the only treatment for drug-resistant seizures, but it has its functional compromise.

Keywords

• focal seizures
• hemispherectomy
• immunomodulators
• rasmussen's encephalitis