title: Surgical treatment of epilepsy in children caused by focal cortical dysplasia.
abstract: Focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) is a congenital disorder of neuronal migration that is increasingly recognized as a common cause of seizures in children, occurring in 20-30% of all surgically treated cases of epilepsy in the pediatric population. Advances in neuroimaging have contributed to recognition of FCD. We report 15 children (9 female, 6 male) with FCD and surgically treated intractable epilepsy. In 9 cases, a surgical strategy of anatomic (frameless stereotactic) grid placement and physiologic (electrocorticography) resection was employed. Postoperative MRI scans were obtained, the pathologic specimen was graded according to the Brannstrom system, and seizure outcome was defined using the Engel classification. There were no deaths and no permanent morbidity. After, on average, 4 years since treatment, 10 children are seizure free, 2 are 2A, 2 are 2B and 1 is 3A. Predictors of good outcome are an MRI-defined lesion and increased cortical disorganization (higher Brannstrom grade). Subtotal resection did not preclude a seizure-free outcome.
authors.affiliation: The Children's Epilepsy Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Scottish Rite, Atlanta, GA, USA. rjhudgins@pediatricneurosurgery.net
authors.forename: Roger J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Hudgins
authors.forename: J Robert
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Flamini
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Palasis
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Thomas G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.forename: C Lynn
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Gilreath
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003399:Craniotomy; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques; D016896:Treatment Outcome