Abstract
SUMMARY: Limbic encephalitis is far more common than previously thought. It is not always associated with cancer, and it is potentially treatable. Autoantibodies against various neuronal cell antigens may arise independently or in association with cancer and cause autoimmune damage to the limbic system. Neuroimaging plays a key role in the management of patients with suspected limbic encephalitis by supporting diagnosis and excluding differential possibilities. This article describes the main types of autoimmune limbic encephalitis and its mimic disorders, and emphasizes their major imaging features.
Abbreviations
- AME
- autoimmune-mediated encephalopathy
- AMPAR
- α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid
- CASPR2
- contactin-associated protein-like 2
- GAD65
- 65-kD isoform of glutamic acid decarboxylase
- GABA
- gamma-aminobutyric acid
- HSE
- herpes virus encephalitis
- LE
- limbic encephalitis
- LGI1
- leucine-rich glioma inactivated 1
- PLE
- paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis
- TL
- temporal lobe
- VGKC
- voltage-gated potassium channel
- © 2015 American Society of Neuroradiology
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