[Subependymal nodules-sudependymal giant cell astrocytoma complex in children with tuberous sclerosis]. / Complejo nódulo subependimario-astrocitoma subependimario gigantocelular en niños con esclerosis tuberosa.

The object of this paper is to describe the imaging and clinical characteristics of subependymal nodule (SN) - subependymal giant cell astrocytoma (SGCA) complex in tuberous sclerosis and analyze its evolution in order to attempt early detection and the prevention of intracranial hypertension. We evaluated 22 patients with the pathological diagnosis of SGCA. The diagnosis was made at a median of 10.1 years old. We were able to observe the evolution of SN to ASGC: these SN were localized adjacent to the foramen of Monro and with time they underwent an important development with intense contrast enhancement and hydrocephalus. The acceleration in SN growth and its "transformation" into SGCA occurred at an average of 10 years of age, with a mean diameter of 9 mm. No SN located far from the foramen of Monro evolutioned to SGCA. Fifteen patients (68%) were operated with symptoms of intracranial hypertension. Average age at surgery was 10.8 years old. Six patients presented visual deficit and in these, the average diameter of the tumor was 31.5 mm, a high value when compared to 18.7 mm in the patients without visual deficit. The imaging and clinical follow-up of any subependymal lesion close to the foramen of Monro will permit, at a presymptomatic stage, an anticipation of surgical treatment thus reducing intracranial hypertension incidence. Prospective studies could determine whether the SN-SGCA complex corresponds to the same entity in distinct evolution stages or to two lesions with different growth potential.

Complejo nódulo subependimario-astrocitoma subependimario gigantocelular en niños con esclerosis tuberosa / Subependymal nodules-subependymal giant cell astrocytoma complex in children with tuberous sclerosis

El objetivo fue describir las características clínico imagenológicas de niños con esclerosis tuberosa que presentaron el complejo Nódulo Subependimario (NS)-Astrocitoma Subependimario Gigantocelular(ASGC) y analizar el comportamiento evolutivo de dicho "complejo" para detectar precozmente su crecimiento y evitar las complicaciones de la hipertensión endocraneana (HTE). Evaluamos 22 pacientes con diagnóstico anátomo patológico de ASGC. El diagnóstico del tumor se realizó a una media de 10.1 años. Pudimos observar la evolución de NS a ASGC; estos NS se ubicaron adyacentes al agujero de Monro y con el tiempo tuvieron un importante crecimiento con intensa captación de contraste e hidrocefalia. La aceleración en el crecimiento de estos NS y su "transformación" en ASGC se produjo a los 10 años de edad promedio, con un diámetro medio de 9 mm. Ningún NS alejado de los forámenes de Monro evolucionó a ASGC. Quince pacientes (68%) fueron operados con síntomas de hipertensión endocraneana. La edad media de la cirugía fue 10.8 años. Seis pacientes presentaron déficit visual. En estos últimos, el diámetro medio mayor del tumor fue 31.5 mm, mayor que los 18.7 mm del grupo de pacientes que no presentó secuela visual. El seguimiento clínico imagenológico periódico de toda lesión subependimaria próxima a los agujeros de Monro, permitiría en etapa presintomática anticipar un tratamiento quirúrgico, que reduciría la incidencia de HTE. Estudios prospectivos podrían determinar si el complejo NS-ASGC corresponde a una misma entidad en distinta etapa evolutiva, o son dos lesiones con diferente potencial de crecimiento.

The object of this paper is to describe the imaging and clinical characteristics of subependymal nodule (SN) - subependymal giant cell astrocytoma (SGCA) complex in tuberous sclerosis and analyze its evolution in order to attempt early detection and the prevention of intracranial hypertension. We evaluated 22 patients with the pathological diagnosis of SGCA. The diagnosis was made at a median of 10.1 years old. We were able to observe the evolution of SN to ASGC: these SN were localized adjacent to the foramen of Monro and with time they underwent an important development with intense contrast enhancement and hydrocephalus. The acceleration in SN growth and its "transformation" into SGCA occurred at an average of 10 years of age, with a mean diameter of 9 mm. No SN located far from the foramen of Monro evolutioned to SGCA. Fifteen patients (68%) were operated with symptoms of intracranial hypertension. Average age at surgery was 10.8 years old. Six patients presented visual deficit and in these, the average diameter of the tumor was 31.5 mm, a high value when compared to 18.7 mm in the patients without visual deficit. The imaging and clinical follow-up of any subependymal lesion close to the foramen of Monro will permit, at a presymptomatic stage, an anticipation of surgical treatment thus reducing intracranial hypertension incidence. Prospective studies could determine whether the SN-SGCA complex corresponds to the same entity in distinct evolution stages or to two lesions with different growth potential.

Childhood absence epilepsy and electroencephalographic focal abnormalities with or without clinical manifestations.

PURPOSE: We studied the electroclinical features and evolution in patients with childhood absence epilepsy (CAE) associated with electroencephalographic findings similar to those of benign focal epilepsies (BFE) with or without clinical manifestations compatible with these focal idiopathic syndromes. METHODS: Between June 1994 and June 2002, we found 203 (3.6%) patients with typical electroclinical features of CAE among 8285 children with epilepsy. From this population of 203, we found 30 cases (14.7%) that also showed focal abnormalities of BFE on the EEG. Seven of these 30 cases also had clinical manifestations of BFE that preceded the onset of the absences. RESULTS: There were 20 (66.5%) boys and 10 (33.5%) girls. Age at onset of absences ranged from 2 to 10.5 years, with a mean age of 5.5 years. Of 30, 7 had focal clinical seizures as well. Three of seven had seizures characteristic of Panayiotopoulos syndrome (PS), and the other four had seizures compatible with childhood occipital epilepsy (COE) of Gastaut. The focal seizures started between 3 and 7 years of age. In all patients seizures were under control within 2-24 months (mean: 11 months) after onset. The focal discharges disappeared in 26 patients at a mean age of 8 years (range 4-13 years), 1 year after the typical absences had disappeared. In four patients the focal paroxysms are still present. CONCLUSION: The association of two different idiopathic focal and generalized epilepsies in the same patient may be merely coincidental, but a close genetic relationship between both epileptic syndromes might be another hypothesis. Another explanation could be that our series of patients represent a subgroup of CAE.

Epileptic encephalopathy with continuous spikes and waves during sleep in children with shunted hydrocephalus: a study of nine cases.

PURPOSE: We present a series of nine patients with early-onset hydrocephalus who had seizures and continuous spikes and waves during slow sleep (CSWS) associated with neurocognitive and motor deterioration. METHODS: Six boys and three girls aged 9-16 years (mean 11.3 years) were studied. [Correction added after online publication 12-Apr-2008: Number of girls and boys has been updated.] All patients underwent clinical examinations, electroencephalographic evaluations, neuroradiological imaging and neuropsychological assessment at first examination. Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) were given in all cases and changed according to clinical and EEG evolution. RESULTS: Onset of epilepsy occurred from age 8 to 60 months (mean 19.6 months and median 14 months) with focal seizures with or without secondary generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Between ages 6 and 13 years (mean 10.4 years and median 8 years), hyperkinesia, aggressiveness, and poor socialization appeared in all nine cases. Reduced attention span, deterioration of language, and temporospatial disorientation were found in three of them. Negative myoclonus was found in two patients. The EEG showed CSWS. Response to change in treatment was good in all patients. None of the patients had relapses, seven of them have remained seizure free, and two continued having sporadic focal motor seizures during 2-5 years (mean 3 years) of follow-up. CONCLUSION: In children with early-onset hydrocephalus, particularly with behavioral and language disturbances and/or motor deterioration, CSWS should be considered. Periodic EEG recordings during sleep should be done in these children. The early identification of this particular electroclinical picture is crucial to start adequate treatment to avoid progressive cognitive deterioration.