2-[18F]-FDG PET/CT in rasmussen encephalitis: guiding diagnosis and treatment in a young adult with sudden onset

TL;DR

This paper discusses how 2-[18F]-FDG PET/CT helped diagnose Rasmussen encephalitis in a young adult with sudden seizures, offering a useful tool for uncertain cases.

Contribution

The paper highlights the usefulness of FDG-PET as a diagnostic adjunct in rare and uncertain cases of Rasmussen encephalitis.

Findings

FDG-PET aided in differentiating between autoimmune encephalitis and Rasmussen encephalitis in a 28-year-old patient.

FDG-PET is suggested as a reliable tool for diagnosing and monitoring Rasmussen encephalitis in challenging cases.

The case supports FDG-PET's value despite it not being a mandatory diagnostic criterion for RE.

Abstract

Rasmussen encephalitis (RE) is a rare condition characterized by a chronic inflammatory disorder due to unilateral inflammation of the cerebral cortex. Typically, it involves one cerebral hemisphere and manifests through intractable epileptic seizures. Its occurrence in adults is infrequent. We present a case of a 28-year-old woman who was brought to the emergency room due to the sudden onset of uncontrolled seizures. The use of 2-[18F]-FDG PET/CT (FDG-PET) helped in the differential diagnosis between autoimmune seronegative encephalitis and Rasmussen encephalitis. Even though FDG-PET is not a mandatory diagnostic criterion in the clinical evaluation of RE patients, the presented case and the available literature suggest its usefulness as a valuable diagnostic tool in patients with uncertain diagnosis, emphasizing its potential as a reliable adjunct in challenging diagnostic scenarios and for patient follow-up.

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