An islander with seizures

This case describes a man with progressive refractory epilepsy whose death was witnessed during a seizure. Initial brain imaging was normal, but follo wing prolonged episodes of non-convulsive status epilepticus, progressive r ight-sided temporal atrophy developed over a period of two years. The clini cal picture and postmortem examination were consistent with the diagnosis o f Rasmussen's encephalitis, a rare condition with a bleak prognosis.