Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 17, 2026
Author Spotlight: Advancing Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery in Children Through Novel Biomarkers and Enhanced Localization
Published on: September 20, 2024
Pilomotor seizures in temporal lobe epilepsy: A case report with sequential changes in magnetic resonance imaging
Tsugiko Kurita1, Kotaro Sakurai1, Youji Takeda1
1Department of Psychiatry and Neurology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, North 15, West 7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-8648, Japan.
Abstract:
Piloerection is a rare ictal manifestation of temporal lobe epilepsy. The case is a 38-year-old man with acute onset of repetitive pilomotor seizures. Lacking other symptoms implicating epileptic seizures, a month passed before he was diagnosed with epilepsy. Ictal electroencephalography revealed rhythmic waves in the right temporal area. Reversible magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities were visible in the right hippocampus, right uncus, and right amygdala. The appropriate antiepileptic drug therapy made him seizure-free, but following MRI, he showed right hippocampal atrophy one year after seizure cessation. This case is significant in that we can follow sequential MRI from onset, and it is meaningful for considering the mesial temporal area as involved with piloerection.
Insights
Piloerection, a rare seizure symptom, was linked to the right temporal lobe in a 38-year-old man. Sequential MRI revealed reversible abnormalities and later atrophy, highlighting the mesial temporal lobe's role in these pilomotor seizures.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Epileptology
Background:
- Piloerection (goosebumps) is an uncommon ictal manifestation in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE).
- Distinguishing pilomotor seizures from other causes can delay diagnosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a case of acute onset pilomotor seizures.
- To investigate the ictal and interictal neuroimaging findings in a patient with TLE presenting with piloerection.
- To explore the role of the mesial temporal structures in piloerection.
Main Methods:
- Case report of a 38-year-old male with acute pilomotor seizures.
- Ictal electroencephalography (EEG) to localize seizure onset.
- Serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) including baseline and follow-up scans.
Main Results:
- Diagnosis of epilepsy was delayed by one month due to lack of typical seizure symptoms.
- Ictal EEG showed rhythmic activity in the right temporal region.
- Initial MRI revealed reversible abnormalities in the right hippocampus, uncus, and amygdala.
- One year after seizure cessation, follow-up MRI demonstrated right hippocampal atrophy.
Conclusions:
- This case highlights the mesial temporal lobe, particularly the hippocampus, as a potential generator of piloerection during seizures.
- Sequential MRI provides valuable insights into the dynamic changes within the temporal lobe during and after epileptic events.
- Early diagnosis and appropriate antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy are crucial for seizure control and potentially mitigating long-term structural changes.
More Related Videos
10:08The Pilocarpine Model of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy and EEG Monitoring Using Radiotelemetry System in Mice
Published on: February 27, 2018
10:22Interictal High Frequency Oscillations Detected with Simultaneous Magnetoencephalography and Electroencephalography as Biomarker of Pediatric Epilepsy
Published on: December 6, 2016