Seizure semiology of occipital lobe epilepsy in children.
OBJECTIVE
Occipital lobe epilepsy in children occurs as an idiopathic form, i.e., Benign Epilepsy with Occipital Paroxysms (BEOP), and a symptomatic form. This study attempted to determine whether seizure semiology could distinguish between the two forms.


METHODS
Fifty children (34 boys, 16 girls) with clinical seizures and interictal EEGs presenting occipital spikes were included consecutively in the study. Seizure onset was between the ages of 2 months and 15 years. Epilepsy was considered symptomatic when psychomotor retardation and/or abnormalities at neurological and/or neuroradiological examination were found: 17 children were classified as idiopathic, and the remaining 33 children were classified as symptomatic. Seizure semiology was assessed by means of a structured interview of the children and their parents, using a detailed questionnaire. Seizure semiology was determined to comprise motor (versive or other movements of the eyes, versive movements of the head, (hemiconvulsions), visual, other signs (e.g. vomiting and headache), and impairment of consciousness.


RESULTS
There were no statistically significant differences in seizure semiology between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Seizure semiology cannot distinguish between different forms of occipital lobe epilepsy: Further clinical examination, clinical neurophysiological investigations, and neuroimaging studies are needed for a correct classification.
Van den Hout
B M
BM
Department of Child Neurology, Rudolf Magnus Institute for Neurosciences, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
Van der Meij
W
W
Wieneke
G H
GH
Van Huffelen
A C
AC
Van Nieuwenhuizen
O
O
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009778:Occipital Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed