Neuroimaging: Rasmussen encephalitis: practice question

A Radiology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

Try it

Radiology · Neuroimaging: Rasmussen encephalitis

Sample item

A 7-year-old has intractable focal seizures with continuous twitching of the right hand and progressive right hemiparesis. Serial MRI over two years shows progressive atrophy of the left cerebral hemisphere. What is the diagnosis?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Rasmussen encephalitis

Rasmussen encephalitis is a chronic unihemispheric inflammatory process in children with refractory focal seizures, epilepsia partialis continua and progressive hemiparesis, with progressive unilateral cortical atrophy on MRI. Sturge-Weber has a facial naevus and gyriform calcification, and mesial temporal sclerosis is limited to the hippocampus.

Option by option

  • A. Mesial temporal sclerosis

    Mesial temporal sclerosis shows hippocampal atrophy, not hemispheric atrophy.

  • B. Tuberous sclerosis

    Tuberous sclerosis shows cortical tubers and subependymal nodules.

  • C. Rasmussen encephalitis (correct)

    Correct. Progressive unilateral hemispheric atrophy with focal status is Rasmussen encephalitis.

  • D. Sturge-Weber syndrome

    Sturge-Weber has a port-wine stain and tram-track calcification.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Radiology questions

Questions about this Radiology question

What is the answer to this Radiology question?

The best answer is C, Rasmussen encephalitis. Rasmussen encephalitis is a chronic unihemispheric inflammatory process in children with refractory focal seizures, epilepsia partialis continua and progressive hemiparesis, with progressive unilateral cortical atrophy on MRI.

Why is "Mesial temporal sclerosis" not the answer?

Mesial temporal sclerosis shows hippocampal atrophy, not hemispheric atrophy.

Why is "Tuberous sclerosis" not the answer?

Tuberous sclerosis shows cortical tubers and subependymal nodules.

Why is "Sturge-Weber syndrome" not the answer?

Sturge-Weber has a port-wine stain and tram-track calcification.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Neuroimaging: Rasmussen encephalitis in Radiology. Sturge-Weber has a facial naevus and gyriform calcification, and mesial temporal sclerosis is limited to the hippocampus.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Neuroimaging: Rasmussen encephalitis?

Learn signs with the image, and the disease they point to. Then use the flashcards and the other Radiology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.