[Stabilized epilepsy in three adult cases of pachygyria]

In complex malformations of the neocortex due to neuronal migration disorders, epilepsy is usually intractable and is observed in childhood. The study of such malformations in adults is rare. Three adult cases are described with easily treated epilepsy controlled by one or two anti-epilectic drugs. A brain CAT-scan of these three patients showed pachygyria (macrogyria) sometimes associated with other malformations and disorders of neurone migration. These three 28, 40 and 53 year-old-patients (one woman and two men) were mentally disturbed with complex neurological disturbances and confined to a wheelchair. Their epilepsy had began in childhood and stabilised as these patients became adults. We raised the question as to whether this is in fact the long-term outcome for epileptic patients with pachygyria. The outcome of such epilepsy due to pachygyria could be better than initially supposed.