Hemifacial seizures due to ganglioglioma of cerebellum.
We present a male infant with hemifacial seizures refractory to antiepileptic medication. Hemifacial spasms around the left eye were frequent during wakefulness and sleep since birth. He also had mild psychomotor retardation. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a large tumor in the left middle cerebellar peduncle. Ictal single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and ictal (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose [(18)F-FDG] positron emission tomography (PET) revealed hyperperfusion and hyper glucose metabolism at the tumor. Total removal of the tumor resulted in complete disappearance of hemifacial seizures and improved psychomotor development, indicating that the cerebellar tumor caused hemifacial seizures. A histopathological study confirmed that the tumor was a ganglioglioma. This case and the literature on similar cases indicated that this was a new epileptic syndrome originating in the cerebellum. Early diagnosis and early complete removal of the epileptogenic lesion should be recommended for this syndrome.
Hanai
Sae
S
Departments of Child Neurology, National Center Hospital for Neurology and Psychiatry, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawahigashi-cho, Kodaira Tokyo 187-8551, Japan. hanai-s@ncchd.go.jp
Okazaki
Ken-ichi
K
Fujikawa
Yoshinao
Y
Nakagawa
Eiji
E
Sugai
Kenji
K
Sasaki
Masayuki
M
Otsuki
Taisuke
T
D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002528:Cerebellar Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005145:Face; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D007839:Functional Laterality; D018303:Ganglioglioma / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D012640:Seizures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18