Small hypothalamic hamartomas and gelastic seizures.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the clinical history of patients with gelastic seizures (GSs) related to small-size hypothalamic hamartomas (HHs), and to show some of these unusual seizures.


METHODS
Patients with GSs and the MRI finding of HH < 1 cm diameter. Ictal EEG or video EEG are required.


RESULTS
Three patients, among 6 with GSs and HH, had a small sessile HH. None of them had a history of precocious puberty, nor any relevant cognitive defects. All patients suffered from other seizure types, in addition to GSs. GSs were drug-resistant in all cases.


CONCLUSIONS
since small, not easily recognizable HHs may be present in patients with GSs, a careful MRI study of the hypothalamic, infundibular and mammillary bodys areas is mandatory in these cases [published with videosequences].
Striano
Salvatore
S
Department of Neurological Sciences, Epilepsy Center, Federico II University, Via Pansini 5, Naples, Italy. sstriano@libero.it
Striano
Pasquale
P
Cirillo
Sossio
S
Nocerino
Cristoforo
C
Bilo
Leonilda
L
Meo
Roberta
R
Ruosi
Patrizia
P
Boccella
Patrizia
P
Briganti
Francesco
F
D000328:Adult; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006222:Hamartoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged