[Focal epilepsy with seizures from the supplementary sensorimotor area. False interpretation as a spinal disease]

The symptomatology of focal epileptic seizures depends on the brain region involved in the epileptic discharge. We report a case in which ictal symptomatology was misinterpreted to be a spinal disease, leading to MRT, CT and X-ray of the lumbar region, which revealed normal results. The ictal symptomatology consisted of a tingling sensation in the lower back, followed by a feeling of tonic tension of the proximal left leg. Ictal EEG video recordings consistently revealed an EEG seizure pattern over the right parasagittal frontocentral region. We concluded that the patient is suffering from a focal epilepsy. The seizures most probably arise from the supplementary sensorimotor region. Carbamazepine treatment rendered the patient free of seizures.