Focal fast rhythmic epileptiform discharges on scalp EEG in a patient with cortical dysplasia

A distinctive scalp electroencephalographic (EEG) pattern of focal fast rhythmic epileptiform discharges (FREDs) in a 23-year-old man with symptomatic localization related epilepsy is presented. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain revealed cortical dysplasia over the right temporal region where the peculiar EEG abnormality was detected. We suggest that this characteristic EEG pattern may be predictive of focal cortical dysplasia (FCD). A brief review of the rhythmic EEG abnormalities in FCDs is also presented.