Related Experiment Videos
Centro-temporal spikes in non-epileptic children: a long-term follow up
A Verrotti1, R Greco, E Altobelli
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Chieti, Italy.
Insights
Centro-temporal spikes (CTS) in children often resolve spontaneously. While most cases clear, a small percentage may develop rolandic epilepsy, highlighting the need for continued monitoring.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pediatrics
- Clinical Neurophysiology
Background:
- Centro-temporal spikes (CTS) are an EEG pattern observed in children.
- The natural history and clinical significance of CTS in non-epileptic pediatric populations require further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the longitudinal evolution of centro-temporal spikes (CTS) in a cohort of healthy children and adolescents.
- To determine the incidence of epilepsy development in subjects with persistent CTS.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 40 children and adolescents with non-epileptic disturbances and CTS on routine EEG were prospectively followed.
- Clinical and electroencephalographic (EEG) evaluations were conducted over a minimum of 5.5 years.
- Subjects were assessed for the persistence of CTS and the development of seizures.
Main Results:
- At follow-up, 82.5% of subjects showed resolution of CTS and absence of epileptic discharges.
- Six subjects (15%) continued to exhibit CTS on sleep EEG.
- Two of the six subjects with persistent CTS developed rolandic epilepsy; the remaining subjects remained seizure-free.
Conclusions:
- Centro-temporal spikes (CTS) can be a transient finding in non-epileptic children and adolescents.
- The majority of pediatric cases with CTS experience spontaneous resolution of this EEG abnormality.
- A small subset of individuals with persistent CTS may be at risk for developing rolandic epilepsy.
Objective:
This study was undertaken in order to determine the natural evolution of centro-temporal spikes (CTS) in a healthy paediatric population.
Methodology:
Forty children and adolescents (mean age +/- SD: 9.9 +/- 4.1 years) with non-epileptic disturbances (tics, headache, pavor nocturnus, vertigo, etc), who showed CTS during routine EEG recordings were studied. No patient suffered from seizures. A clinical and electroencephalographic follow-up of at least 5.5 years was carried out in all subjects.
Results:
At the follow-up examination, 33 of the 40 cases (82.5%) had no CTS or other epileptic discharges in awake and sleep EEGs, while six subjects continued to show CTS discharges in sleep EEG. Among those subjects who showed persistence of CTS in sleep EEG, rolandic epilepsy developed in two cases, while all other subjects continued to be seizure free.
Conclusions:
This study demonstrates that CTS can be present in non-epileptic children and adolescents; in the majority of subjects this EEG abnormality disappears spontaneously and only a small percentage of subjects who have persistence of this pattern develops rolandic epilepsy.