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Updated: May 19, 2026
Electromagnetic Source Imaging in Presurgical Evaluation of Children with Drug-Resistant Epilepsy
Published on: September 20, 2024
[Surgery of intractable epilepsy in infants and adolescents. Case report]
Enrique José Herrera1, Claudio Palacios, Julio César Suárez
1Departamento de Neurocirugía, Sanatorio Allende, Córdoba.
Insights
Pediatric epilepsy surgery offers hope for children with intractable seizures. Surgical interventions, including tumor resection, provided significant seizure control in a diverse group of young patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurosurgery
- Epileptology
- Pediatric Neurology
Context:
- Intractable epilepsy in children presents significant challenges.
- Surgical management is considered for refractory cases.
- A 12-year retrospective review was conducted.
Purpose:
- To analyze surgical outcomes in pediatric patients with intractable epilepsy.
- To evaluate the efficacy of epilepsy surgery in various etiologies.
- To report on seizure control and surgical safety in this cohort.
Summary:
- Twenty children under 15 underwent epilepsy surgery for intractable seizures.
- Etiologies included cortical dysplasia, tumors, Rasmussen syndrome, and others.
- Temporal lobe epilepsy was most common (9 cases), followed by extra-temporal (11 cases).
- Tumor resections achieved 100% seizure control (Engel IA).
- Other pathologies showed good to moderate seizure reduction (Engel I-IV).
Impact:
- Epilepsy surgery is a viable and safe option for pediatric intractable epilepsy.
- Positive outcomes were observed across diverse neurological conditions.
- This study contributes to understanding surgical efficacy in pediatric epilepsy management.
Abstract:
Our objective is to present a series of 20 cases of children under 15 years operated on of intractable epilepsy in the last 12 years in Sanatorio Allende of Córdoba, based on medical records and follow up. Were included 8 patients with cortical dysplasias, 6 with tumors, 2 with Rasmüssen syndrome, 1 with mesial gliosis, 1 with porencephalic cyst, 1 with gliosis due to traumatic brain injury, and 1 with encephalitis history. Localization was temporal in 9 cases and extra-temporal in 11 cases (4 were frontal, 4 occipital, and 3 parietal). There was no surgical mortality. Patients with brain tumors present a satisfactory control over convulsive crises after tumor resection (Engel IA in 100%). Good results were also achieved in nontumor pathologies: 8 cases Engel IA, 1 Engel I B; 3 cases Engel III A, one IV A and other IV C.
