A Case of Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a progressive inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS) caused by a persistent, aberrant measles virus infection. The outcome is usually fatal. After a latent period of 6 to 7 years, there is subtle and slow cognitive decline and visuospatial disorientation develops followed by myoclonic jerks, extrapyramidal symptoms, ataxia, and seizures, progressing to coma or vegetative state. The diagnosis is based on at least three of the following criteria 1) clinical manifestations 2) abnormal EEG 3) hyperglobulinorrachia, elevated serum or spinal fluid measles antibody 4) histologic features. No therapeutic maneuver has been proven conclusively to be of value. We have diagnosed and experienced a case of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) in a 5-year-old child with the chief complaint of myoclonic seizure and mental deterioration. We report a case and the brief review of related literature.

A Case of Primary Small Cell Bronchogenic Carcinoma Detected by Bronchoscopy in a Child

While the frequency of primary carcinoma of the lung has recently increased in adults, it is rare in the pediatric age group. The various adult types of bronchogenic carcinoma such as squamous cell, small cell, large cell, and adenocarcinoma, are extremely rare in children. Twenty to 30 cases of primary bronchogenic carcinoma of the lung in children under 15 years of age have been reported in the English-language literature. We have experienced a small cell bronchogenic carcinoma detected by fiberoptic bronchoscopy with bronchial biopsy in a 14-year-old boy with chief complaint of hemoptysis, lung mass and persistent pneumonitis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of primary small cell bronchogenic carcinoma in childhood under 15 years of age. We report this case with a brief review of related literatures.