Transient edematous lesions of the splenium in epileptic patients.
BACKGROUND
Transient focal lesions in the splenium of the corpus callosum (SCC) have been previously described in patients with epilepsy or without epilepsy but receiving antiepileptic drugs (AED).


METHODS
Two epileptic patients were admitted to our long-term monitoring unit. Antiepileptic drugs were completely discontinued a few days later. One patient had no seizures. The other had three attacks, the last of which occurred two days before a brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed. In both cases brain MRI showed a lesion in the SCC characterized by high signal on T2-weighted images and no enhancement after Gadolinium infusion. The patients were discharged with their pre-admission medications. A follow-up MRI five weeks later showed resolution of the SCC lesions.


CONCLUSIONS
The pathogenesis of transient SCC lesions in epileptic patients is still unclear. In our patients, either the sudden AED withdrawal or the seizures activity may be presumed to be the cause, though an individual susceptibility must also be considered.
Carrara
Giovanna
G
Department of Radiology, McGill University, Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Ferlazzo
Edoardo
E
Tampieri
Donatella
D
Andermann
Frederick
F
Melanson
Denis
D
D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000473:pathology*; D003337:Corpus Callosum / Q000473:pathology*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D004829:Epilepsy, Generalized / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male
D000927:Anticonvulsants