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Venous angioma may be associated with epilepsy in children
Bo Ryung Kim1, Yun Jin Lee2, Sang Ook Nam2
1Department of Pediatrics, Pusan National University Hospital, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
Insights
Pediatric venous angiomas (VA), particularly those in the brainstem and cerebellum, are linked to a higher prevalence of epilepsy. This study highlights the association between VA location and seizure risk in children.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pediatric Neurology
- Vascular Malformations
Background:
- Venous angioma (VA) is the most common congenital intracranial vascular abnormality.
- Understanding the link between VA and neurological conditions like epilepsy is crucial for diagnosis and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between venous angiomas and epilepsy in pediatric patients.
- To identify specific characteristics of children with both VA and epilepsy.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of brain MRI scans from pediatric patients (<18 years).
- Comparison of epilepsy prevalence between patients with isolated VA and age/sex-matched controls with normal MRI.
- Analysis of VA location (cerebral hemispheres vs. brainstem/cerebellum) and its correlation with epilepsy.
Main Results:
- A significantly higher prevalence of epilepsy was observed in the VA group (34.6%) compared to the control group (11.5%).
- VAs located in the brainstem and cerebellum were associated with a higher epilepsy prevalence (83.3%) than those in the cerebral hemispheres (20.0%).
- Patients with VA in the brainstem/cerebellum and epilepsy showed more frequent abnormal EEG findings.
Conclusions:
- Venous angiomas, especially those in the brainstem and cerebellum, are associated with epilepsy in children.
- The location of VA is a significant factor in the risk of developing epilepsy.
Purpose:
Venous angioma (VA) is the most common congenital abnormality of the intracranial vasculature. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between VA and epilepsy and to identify the characteristics of children with VA and epilepsy.
Methods:
The records of all patients aged less than 18 years who underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at Pusan National University Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with isolated VA and patients with normal MRI were compared in terms of the prevalence of epilepsy.
Results:
In total, 2,385 pediatric patients who underwent brain MRI were enrolled. Isolated VA was identified in 26 patients (VA group). Among the patients with normal MRI findings, 225 age- and sex-matched patients to the VA-group were assigned to the control group. Nine patients in the VA group (9 of 26, 34.6%) and 27 patients in the control group (26 of 225, 11.5%; P<0.001) had epilepsy. In the VA group, 20 patients (76.9%) had the VA in the cerebral hemispheres, and 6 patients (23.1%) had the VA in the brainstem and cerebellum. The latter showed a higher prevalence of epilepsy (5 of 6, 83.3%) than the former (4 of 20, 20.0%; P=0.004). Among the nine patients who had epilepsy with VA, patients whose VA involved the brainstem and cerebellum showed a significantly higher frequency of abnormal Electroencephalographic findings than patients whose VA involved the cerebral hemispheres (P=0.016).
Conclusion:
VA, especially in the brainstem and cerebellum, might be associated with epilepsy.
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