Relapsed herpes simplex virus encephalitis after epilepsy surgery

Abstract

Relapsed herpes simplex virus (HSV) encephalitis after neurosurgery is a very rare condition. An 11-year-old boy suffered from relapsed HSV encephalitis five days after neurosurgery to remove the epileptogenic focus six years after prior HSV encephalitis. He was diagnosed with HSV encephalitis reactivation after positive HSV polymerase chain reaction results following a lumbar puncture, and this diagnosis was supported by consistent radiologic and histopathologic findings. Moreover, focal cortical dysplasia coexisted with inflammatory changes resulting from a viral infection based upon the removed brain tissue. This case may support the hypothesis that neurosurgery may be a triggering factor of HSV reactivation.