MRI-negative frontal lobe epilepsy with ipsilateral akinesia and reflex activation

Epileptic Disord. 2008 Dec;10(4):349-55. doi: 10.1684/epd.2008.0224.

Abstract

The pre-operative assessment and surgical management of children and young adults with MRI-negative, frontal lobe epilepsy is often challenging owing to the semiologic expression being unusual or non-lateralizing. Localization based on functional tests may be non-convergent, further compounding the difficulty of surgical planning. We describe a patient with seizures presenting with early, subjective akinesia of the dominant hand that were at times triggered by repetitive motor tasks. Subdural EEG monitoring revealed seizure-origin in the ipsilateral dorsolateral frontal lobe. After resective surgery the patient has had a seizure free period of 9 months, and is free of deficits. This is the first report of frontal lobe seizure semiology consisting of ipsilateral ictal akinesia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Dyskinesias / etiology*
  • Electroencephalography
  • Epilepsy, Frontal Lobe / complications*
  • Epilepsy, Frontal Lobe / diagnosis*
  • Epilepsy, Frontal Lobe / surgery
  • Functional Laterality / physiology
  • Hand / innervation
  • Hand / physiology
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Movement / physiology
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Neurosurgical Procedures
  • Reflex / physiology*
  • Seizures / etiology
  • Seizures / physiopathology