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[Infantile spasms associated with a brain tumor]
J M Pedespan1, D Fontan, Y Perel
1Service de Pédiatrie B et de Neurochirurgie, Hôpital Pellegrin, Bordeaux.
Archives Francaises De Pediatrie
|December 1, 1992
Summary
Infantile spasms can rarely be linked to brain tumors. This case highlights a child who developed partial seizures and an astrocytoma years after initial infantile spasms.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Neuro-oncology
Background:
- Infantile spasms (IS) are typically associated with diffuse brain abnormalities.
- Focal cerebral lesions, such as brain tumors, are an uncommon cause of IS.
Observation:
- A 15-month-old girl presented with IS, initially treated successfully with hydrocortisone and valproic acid.
- EEG showed frontal epileptiform discharges post-treatment.
- At age 5, she developed partial seizures, and imaging revealed a right frontal lobe astrocytoma.
Findings:
- The astrocytoma was surgically excised and followed by radiation therapy.
- Post-intervention, the patient showed normal development and no seizure recurrence at 18 months.
- The relationship between the initial IS and the later-diagnosed brain tumor remains unclear.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of thorough investigation in atypical IS presentations.
- It suggests that focal brain lesions, including tumors, may present subtly in early childhood.
- Long-term neurodevelopmental and seizure monitoring is crucial for children with a history of IS.