CORTICAL DYSPLASIA AND EPILEPSY: REPORT OF 15 CASES
Abstract number :
3.042
Submission category :
Year :
2002
Submission ID :
1887
Source :
www.aesnet.org
Presentation date :
12/7/2002 12:00:00 AM
Published date :
Dec 1, 2002, 06:00 AM
Authors :
Amel Mrabet, Mohamed Fredj, Dalila El Bahri. Neurological department, Charles Nicolle Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia
RATIONALE: Cortical developmental malformations are a cause of refractory epilepsy and are best diagnosed by MRI.We report 15 cases of cortical dysplasia (CD) referred to our neurological department for refractory epilepsy.
METHODS: 15 patients with CD were assessed for age of onset, seizures type, course of seizures, EEG, MRI, response to AED and surgery.
RESULTS: MRI revealed agyria, pachygyria with polymicrogyria in 10 cases, periventricular nodular heterotopia in 2 cases, bilateral band heterotopia associated to corpus callosum agenesis in 2 cases and schizencephalia in 1 case. EEG were abnormal at the site corresponding to CD. Epilepsy was refractory. One patient had surgery and vagal nerve stimulation with significant improvement.
CONCLUSIONS: Classification of CD has an obvious attraction but it is still insufficient to explain all cases. A careful clinical study combined with results of EEG, neuroimaging and other investigations should increase our knowledge of these conditions. Surgey must be considered in cases with intractable epilepsies