Hemiplegia following mild head injury in a child with Sturge-Weber syndrome - a diagnostic dilemma

ABSTRACT

Sturge-Weber syndrome [SWS] is a neurocutaneous disorder with skin, eye, and brain involvement. Hemiplegia in children with SWS after a mild head injury is known to occur in up to one-fifth of cases. A 3-year male child presented with a sudden onset hemiplegia following a mild head injury. He was known to have seizure disorder and was being treated with sodium valproate. CT scan of the brain showed contusion. He was admitted for neurological observations and the patient made complete recovery with conservative treatment. MRI scan of the brain done 5 days later which showed venous malformation of choroid plexus on the left side. These changes were considered to be consistent with a preexisting cerebral lesion which coincidentally got detected at neuroimaging done after the mild head injury. There is need for good seizure control as it is likely to be associated with better neurological outcome. The case emphasizes the need for clinical correlation with findings at neuroimaging in children with SWS presenting with head injuries