Ring or disc-like enhancing lesions in partial epilepsy in India

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Pediatrics
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Partial motor seizures in children can have various underlying causes.
• Cranial imaging is crucial for diagnosing the etiology of seizures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the nature of cranial lesions in children with partial motor seizures.
• To determine the efficacy of anti-tubercular therapy for identified lesions.

Main Methods:

• Clinical evaluation and cranial computed tomography (CT) scans were performed on 100 children with partial motor seizures.
• Patients with enhancing ring or disc lesions received three-drug anti-tubercular therapy and anticonvulsants.
• Follow-up scans were obtained for a subset of patients.

Main Results:

• Abnormal CT scans were found in 73% of children.
• Enhancing ring (35%) or disc-like (21%) lesions were identified in 56 patients, correlating with seizure origin.
• The majority of lesions showed decreased size or disappeared after anti-tubercular therapy, with some developing calcification.

Conclusions:

• Ring or disc-like enhancing lesions on cranial CT scans in children with partial motor seizures are likely tuberculomas.
• These tuberculomas are a common cause of partial motor seizures in the studied area.
• Anti-tubercular therapy is effective in managing these lesions.