title: Focal epilepsy with ictal abdominal pain: a case report.
abstract: Focal epilepsy with ictal abdominal pain is an unusual partial epilepsy characterized by paroxysmal episodes of abdominal or visceral pain, disturbance of awareness and electroencephalographic abnormalities. We describe a new case of ictal abdominal pain in which gastrointestinal complaints were the only manifestation of seizures and review the previously described pediatric patients. In our patient clinical findings, ictal EEG abnormalities, and a good response to antiepileptic drugs allowed us to make a diagnosis of focal epilepsy with ictal abdominal pain. This is a rare epileptic phenomenon that should be suspected in patients with unexplained paroxysmal abdominal pain and migraine-like symptoms. We suggest that, after the exclusion of more common etiologies, focal epilepsy with ictal abdominal pain should be considered in patients with paroxysmal abdominal pain and ictal EEG abnormalities.
authors: Caterina
authors: C
authors: Cerminara
authors: Department of Neuroscience, Paediatric Neurology Unit, "Tor Vergata" University of Rome, Viale Oxford, 81, 00133 Rome, Italy. elm.nadia@gmail.com.
authors: Nadia
authors: N
authors: El Malhany
authors: Denis
authors: D
authors: Roberto
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Curatolo
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D002220:Carbamazepine