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Intractable seizures, compulsions, and coprolalia: a pediatric case study
R Caplan1, Y Comair, D A Shewmon
1Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Research Group, University of California, Los Angeles.
The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences
|January 1, 1992
Summary
A young girl’s complex partial seizures and concerning neurobehavioral symptoms, including aphasia and aggression, resolved after surgery for a temporal lobe tumor. This case highlights the link between brain tumors and behavioral changes in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Neuro-oncology
- Behavioral Neurology
Background:
- Intractable epilepsy in children can present with complex neurological and behavioral symptoms.
- Gangliogliomas, a type of brain tumor, can occur in the temporal lobe and be associated with seizures.
Observation:
- A 10-year-old female experienced intractable complex partial seizures.
- She developed significant neurobehavioral changes, including aphasia, coprolalia, and repetitive motor behaviors (sexual and aggressive acts).
Findings:
- Surgical resection of a left anterior temporal lobe ganglioglioma led to seizure control.
- Post-operatively, the patient's aphasia, coprolalia, and repetitive motor behaviors completely subsided.
Implications:
- This case suggests a direct link between the temporal lobe ganglioglioma and the observed neurobehavioral disturbances.
- The reversibility of symptoms post-tumor removal and seizure control underscores the potential for neurological recovery.
- Highlights the importance of considering and investigating potential underlying organic causes for complex pediatric behavioral changes.