title: Over-interpretation of electroclinical and neuroimaging findings in syncopes misdiagnosed as epileptic seizures.
abstract: Syncope and epileptic seizures share some common clinical characteristics that may complicate the diagnostic process. In clinical practice, syncope is frequently misdiagnosed as an epileptic seizure and consequently treated with antiepileptic drugs. In this study, we identified 57 patients with syncope (diagnosis based on accepted criteria) who had come to our unit with a previous diagnosis of definite epilepsy in 30 cases (syncope misdiagnosed as epileptic seizures, SMS), or suspected epilepsy in the remaining 27 cases (unrecognized syncope, US). We attempted to identify factors underlying misdiagnosis by reviewing clinical findings, particularly potentially confounding features, and EEG/neuroimaging data. Finally, we compared these two groups of patients to search for crucial elements that had led to misdiagnosis. Although some clinical elements were found to be confounding in both groups, it was the interpretation of the EEG and MRI findings, particularly when combined with the confounding clinical features that constituted the main reasons for misdiagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Epilepsy Unit, Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Jinane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fattouch
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Di Bonaventura
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Strano
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vanacore
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manfredi
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prencipe
authors.forename: Anna Teresa
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Giallonardo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013575:Syncope / Q000175:diagnosis*