General description

In autoimmune encephalitis, the basal ganglia are often involved in anti-CV2 antibody-related encephalitis, which is frequently associated with small cell lung tumors and thymoma. Besides CV2, antibodies against LGI1, Hu, and NMDAR are also known to cause striatal encephalitis.

Radiographic features

An MRI demonstrates T2WI and FLAIR hyperintensity in the striatum. These signal changes are typically bilateral, though they can occasionally be unilateral. DWI reveals hyperintensity, but ADC shows no reduction.