Authors :
Presenting Author: Christoph Helmstaedter, PhD – University Clinic Bonn Department of Epileptology
Lucas Tennie, Mr. – University Clinic Bonn, Epileptology; Rainer Surges, MD – University Clinic Bonn, Epileptology; Albert Becker, MD – University Clinic Bonn, Neuropathology; Juri-Alexander Witt, PhD – University Clinic Bonn, Epileptology
Rationale: Focal cortical dysplasia Type II (type a and b) represent frequent developmental cortical malformation in focal epilepsy. Two subtypes have different cytomorphologic features (dysmorphic neurons and architectural distortion of cortical layers without and with Balloon cells), frequency of MRI abnormalities (cortical thickening and transmantle sign), and may also differ in regard to their neuropsychological features.
Methods: In 85 patients available neuropsychological data across various domains (IQ, attention, motor, memory, language, visuo-construction) were evaluated as a function of dysplasia subtype (a= 26 b=58), localization (17% temporal) lateralization (49% right) of the lesion, age at onset (57% < age 6), drug load. Since children and adults were assessed with different tests performance categories analyzed
Results: Epilepsy with FCD IIb was more frequent than type A, started more frequently before age six, and tended be more often extratemporal. No performance differences were seen dependent on subtype, localization, lateralization, or drug load. Independent on the subtype, an early age at epilepsy onset was associated with poorer cognition and with poorer IQ, motor and language function in particular (Mann-Whitney-U-Test p< 0.04 to 0.000)