title: Seizures as the presenting symptom of brain tumors in children.
abstract: Epileptic seizures caused by tumors in children have been regarded as uncommon. We have studied 99 consecutive cases of brain tumors during the period 1980-1987. In 20 cases the tumor was localized to one of the hemipheres and 10 of the cases had seizures, in 9 as the only initial symptom. Details of the clinical picture and the course are presented. Delay from initial symptoms to correct diagnosis was considerable in 4 cases--more than six years. The factors mainly responsible for this delay were: initial EEG normal or soon normalized, misinterpretation of computerized tomography and seizure freedom with or without antiepileptic drug treatment. We conclude that regional slowing in the EEG is a common, although not obligatory, finding. Computerized tomography should be performed in all children with newly presented epilepsy of partial type, except for those with benign partial epilepsy with centro-temporal spikes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sjörs
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Blennow
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lantz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009837:Oligodendroglioma / Q000175:diagnosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed