Objective: To acquaint readers with the underrecognized subacute encephalopathy with seizures in chronic alcoholics (SESA) that has more recently been associated with different types of status epilepticus.

Methods: Case reports and review of the literature on SESA and nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE).

Results: Two cases: one with alternating bifrontoparietal NCSE, and one with focal, confusional NCSE, with imaging and EEG correlates.

Conclusions: Underrecognized SESA may present as NCSE with focal clinical, EEG and reversible diffusion-weighted MRI abnormalities, warranting expedited diagnosis and antiseizure treatment to minimize morbidity.