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Epilepsy Secondary to Polymicrogyria

Yuktha Putta1, Samuel B Miller2, Sumanth K Bandaru1

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, MedStar Harbor Hospital, Baltimore, USA.

Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives
|August 4, 2025
PubMed

Insights

A young man

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Neuroimaging
  • Substance Abuse

Background:

  • Seizures can be triggered by various factors, including substance abuse.
  • Identifying underlying structural causes is crucial for effective seizure management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate potential structural causes of seizures in a patient with polysubstance abuse.
  • To highlight the significance of neuroimaging in seizure disorder diagnosis.

Main Methods:

  • Case report of a young adult male presenting with a witnessed seizure.
  • Comprehensive drug screening.
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the brain.

Main Results:

  • Drug screen positive for cocaine, marijuana, and benzodiazepines.
  • Brain MRI revealed polymicrogyria, a cortical developmental malformation.
  • Polymicrogyria is a known risk factor for epilepsy.

Conclusions:

  • Structural brain abnormalities like polymicrogyria can cause seizures, even in the context of drug abuse.
  • Thorough investigation for structural causes is essential before attributing seizures solely to substance use.
  • This case underscores the importance of neuroimaging in diagnosing seizure disorders in polysubstance users.
Keywords:
Cortical malformationEpilepsyPolymicrogyria

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