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Published on: June 14, 2014
Ictal singing due to left mesial temporal sclerosis
Demet Yandim Kuscu1, Nalan Kayrak, Aykut Karasu
1Bakýrkoy Hospital for Psychiatric and Neurological Diseases, Istanbul. dykuscu@yahoo.com
Summary
Complex automatisms like ictal singing and dancing are rare in epilepsy. This case highlights a patient with left temporal lobe epilepsy experiencing these unique seizure behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Epileptology
- Clinical Neuroscience
Background:
- Automatisms, involuntary behaviors during seizures, are common in epilepsy.
- While simple automatisms are frequent, complex automatisms, including vocalizations and elaborate movements, are rare.
- Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy is often associated with simple automatisms.
Observation:
- A 17-year-old patient presented with rare seizure manifestations: ictal singing and rhythmic arm swinging resembling dancing.
- Video-electroencephalography (video-EEG) monitoring was crucial for capturing these events.
- The recordings indicated seizure onset originating from the left temporal lobe.
Findings:
- The patient exhibited complex automatisms during seizures, specifically singing and a dancing-like gesture.
- Ictal activity was localized to the left temporal region based on EEG data.
- Post-surgical neuropathological examination confirmed left mesial temporal sclerosis as the underlying cause.
Implications:
- This case expands the spectrum of complex automatisms observed in epilepsy.
- It underscores the importance of video-EEG in diagnosing rare seizure semiologies.
- Findings support the association between left mesial temporal lobe epilepsy and complex ictal behaviors.
