Rasmussen's encephalitis
![](/Images/godic/202502/06/CT_scan_Rasmussen's_encephalitis5042.png")
![Brain biopsy in Rasmussen's encephalitis showing lymphocytic infiltrates staining for CD8 on immunohistochemistry](/Images/godic/202502/06/Rasmussen_Brainbiopsy_CD85042.jpg")
![Brain MRI of an 8 year old female with Rasmussen's encephalitis. A. December 2008, the patient was presented with headache and epilepsia partialis continua. There are lesions with local brain swelling in the right parietal and occipital lobes and right cerebellar hemisphere.
B. April 2009, the same patient, now she is comatose with epilepsia partialis continua. There is progression of the encephalitis - the left cerebral hemisphere has been involved with severe brain swelling and shift of the midline structures.](/Images/godic/202502/06/MRI_Rasmussen's_encephalitis5042.png")
Rasmussen's encephalitis, also known as chronic focal encephalitis (CFE), is a rare inflammatory neurological disease, characterized by frequent and severe seizures, loss of motor skills and speech, hemiparesis (paralysis on one side of the body), encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), and dementia. The illness affects a single cerebral hemisphere and generally occurs in children under the age of 15.