Emergency Department Presentation of a New-Onset Seizure: A Case Report

A seizure is a symptom of brain dysfunction, resulting in 1.6 million emergency department visits each year. The evaluation of new seizures in the emergency department is a process looking for triggers of seizures such as toxins, mass lesions, or metabolic derangements. Maintaining a broad differential diagnosis is essential to prevent premature closure of the diagnostic evaluation. Timing of neurologic imaging and electroencephalogram depends on the clinical situation. In this case, a young woman presents with a "new-onset" seizure with subsequent elevation of white blood cells and serum lactate levels. Neurologic imaging identified a large dermoid cyst in the frontal lobe. We review how seizures can elevate the serum lactate distinguishing a general tonic-clonic seizure from pseudoseizures and how dermoid cysts can be implicated in seizures.