Pediatric extratemporal epilepsy presenting with a complex auditory aura.
BACKGROUND
Ear plugging (placing fingers in or covering the ears) is a clinical seizure semiology that has been described as a response to an unformed, auditory hallucination localized to the superior temporal neocortex. The localizing value of ear plugging in more complex auditory hallucinations may have more involved circuitry. We report on one child, whose aura was a more complex auditory phenomenon, consisting of a door opening and closing, getting louder as the ictus persisted.


METHODS
This child presented, at four years of age, with brief episodes of ear plugging followed by an acute emotional change that persisted until surgical resection of a left mesial frontal lesion at 11 years of age. Scalp video-EEG, magnetic resource imaging, magnetoencephalography, and invasive video-EEG monitoring were carried out.


RESULTS
The scalp EEG changes always started after clinical onset. These were not localizing, and encompassed a wide field over the bi-frontal head regions, the left side predominant over the right. Intracranial video-EEG monitoring with subdural electrodes over both frontal and temporal regions localized the seizure-onset to the left mesial frontal lesion. The patient has remained seizure-free since the resection on June 28, 2006, approximately one and a half years ago.


CONCLUSIONS
Ear plugging in response to simple auditory auras localize to the superior temporal gyrus. If the patient has more complex, formed auditory auras, not only may the secondary auditory areas in the temporal lobe be involved, but one has to entertain the possibility of ictal-onset from the frontal cortex.
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38105, USA. dclarke3@utmem.edu
Dave F
DF
Clarke
Frederick A
FA
Boop
Amy L
AL
McGregor
F Frederick
FF
Perkins
Vickie R
VR
Brewer
James W
JW
Wheless
D001519:Behavior; D002648:Child; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D015225:Magnetoencephalography; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D012640:Seizures / Q000523:psychology