Focal epilepsy associated with dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor in the area of the caudate nucleus.
Dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors (DNTs) are usually located within the supratentorial cortex, often in the temporal lobe and they are frequently associated with intractable complex partial seizures. DNTs in extracortical sites are rare. Thus far, 21 cases of 36 DNT-lesions occurring in these areas have been reported; only 8 out of them had epilepsy. We report a case of a 39-year-old woman who had pharmacoresistant epilepsy associated to a DNT in the caudate nucleus-periventricular area treated by lesionectomy. During a 4-year follow-up period, the patient was seizure free and the tumor did not recur. We discuss the hypothetical epileptogenic mechanism involved and we review the pertinent literature.
Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosciences, Bellaria Hospital, Bologna IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche, Italy. giulioni.m@tiscali.it
Marco
M
Giulioni
Guido
G
Rubboli
Gianluca
G
Marucci
Matteo
M
Martinoni
Anna Federica
AF
Marliani
Patrizia
P
Riguzzi
Fabio
F
Calbucci
D000328:Adult; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002421:Caudate Nucleus / Q000473:pathology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018302:Neoplasms, Neuroepithelial / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome