title: Intrinsic epileptogenicity of gangliogliomas may be independent from co-occurring focal cortical dysplasia.
abstract: Gangliogliomas are a frequent cause of drug-resistant epilepsies in children. It remains unknown, however, whether gangliogliomas are intrinsically epileptogenic or if associated lesions contribute to their high epileptogenicity, i.e. associated focal cortical dysplasia (FCD). We report on a child operated twice for drug-resistant focal seizures symptomatic of a right temporal lobe lesion. Histological examination of the first, incomplete lesionectomy revealed tumor-associated FCD Type IIIb. The child was not seizure-free, and surface as well as intracerebral recordings were obtained during a second presurgical assessment. Histopathological examination of the second operation revealed a ganglioglioma. Intralesional EEG recordings from the ganglioglioma documented rhythmic bursts of fast activity suggesting that the high epileptogenicity of gangliogliomas is related to intrinsic epileptogenic activity.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Neurology Unit, Children's Hospital Meyer-University of Florence, viale Pieraccini 24, 50139 Florence, Italy. c.barba@meyer.it
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barba
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Coras
authors.forename: Flavio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Giordano
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Buccoliero
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Genitori
authors.forename: Ingmar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Blümcke
authors.forename: Renzo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guerrini
mesh_terms: D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D018303:Ganglioglioma / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D054220:Malformations of Cortical Development / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology