[Cortical dysplasias and epilepsy]

Cortical dysplasias are a spectrum of malformations of the cerebral cortex that arise during development and are associated with epilepsy and mental retardation. New neuroimaging techniques have helped an in vivo" diagnosis of these conditions and the definition of specific clinical syndromes. This article reviews the etiology of these disorders, and briefly discusses the clinical and neuroimaging findings, and the prognosis of the epilepsy secondary to these malformations.