title: Topographic congruence of calcified parenchymal neurocysticercosis and other structural brain lesions with epileptiform activity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Calcified parenchymal neurocysticercosis (NCC) lesions are commonly detected in many individuals with refractory epilepsy. However, the relationship between these lesions and epilepsy is not fully determined. We sought to determine if calcified parenchymal NCC demonstrated topographic congruence with epileptiform activity in refractory epilepsy patients. Additional patients with other structural brain lesions were included for comparison.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective cross-sectional analysis of all patients treated at a community-based neurology clinic for refractory epilepsy during a 3-month period and with structural brain lesions detected by neuroimaging studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 105 patients were included in the study, including 63 with calcified parenchymal NCC lesions and 42 with other structural brain lesions. No significant relationship was detected between hemispheric localization of calcified parenchymal NCC lesions and epileptiform activity. For those with other structural brain lesions, the hemispheric localization was significantly related to the side of epileptiform activity (Chi-square = 11.13, P = 0.025). In addition, logistic regression models showed that those with right-sided non-NCC lesions were more likely to have right-sided epileptiform activity (odds ratio = 4.36, 95% confidence interval [CI] =1.16-16.31, P = 0.029), and those with left-sided non-NCC lesions were more likely to have left-sided epileptiform activity (odds ratio = 7.60, 95% CI = 1.89-30.49, P = 0.004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The lack of correlation between the side of calcified parenchymal NCC lesions and the side of the epileptiform activity suggests that these lesions may be incidental findings in many patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Division of Neurology, Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute, Torrance, CA 90502, USA.
authors.forename: Erin K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Division of Neurology, Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute, Torrance, CA 90502, USA.
authors.forename: Meera
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nagpal
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Division of Neurology, Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute, Torrance, CA 90502, USA; W. M. Keck Science Center, Pitzer College, Claremont, CA 91711, USA.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leon
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Division of Neurology, Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute, Torrance, CA 90502, USA; Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Neurology, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA 90509, USA.
authors.forename: Bijal
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Division of Neurology, Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute, Torrance, CA 90502, USA; Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Neurology, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA 90509, USA.
authors.forename: Aaron Matthew
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: McMurtray
keywords: Epilepsy; etiology; neurocysticercosis