Epilepsia partialis continua and neuronal migration anomalies

Neuronal migration anomalies commonly cause seizures that are partial in type and generally refractory to medical treatment. Epilepsia partialis continua (EPC), an unusual form of epilepsy commonly related to acute damage of the cerebral cortex or to a chronic lesion, has never been described in a patient with neuronal migration anomalies. In 50 children with epilepsy due to neuronal migration anomalies, we observed two cases of EPC. These two children had unilateral neuronal migration abnormalities with partial seizures other than EPC and contralateral hemiparesis. Epilepsia partialis continua appeared two to three years after the onset of partial attacks and was accompanied by a worsening of the children's previous hemiparesis. Although a rare seizure manifestation in children with neuronal migration anomalies, when it does appear, EPC can aggravate the clinical neurological condition and should always be investigated for in these cases. Because its clinical appearance is often subtle, as in these two children, EPC may easily remain undiagnosed.