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Seizures and 'disappearing' brain lesions
1Department of Neurology, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New Hyde Park, New York, USA.
Seizure
|March 1, 1995
Summary
Brain imaging may show lesions in patients with seizures. Sometimes these lesions resolve spontaneously, potentially being a consequence of seizures, not the cause. Venous thrombosis is a key consideration.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuroradiology
Background:
- Seizures can be associated with abnormal findings on brain imaging like MRI and CT scans.
- These lesions are often presumed to be the cause of seizures, potentially leading to invasive diagnostic procedures.
Observation:
- A subset of patients exhibit 'disappearing' lesions on follow-up imaging.
- Two cases illustrate spontaneous resolution of brain lesions in patients with seizures.
- Case 1: New onset seizures with a straight sinus thrombosis confirmed by angiography, with lesion resolution on follow-up MRI.
Findings:
- Case 2: A patient with a history of seizures developed a parieto-occipital lesion on MRI, which resolved spontaneously over a year.
- These findings suggest that some brain lesions observed in seizure patients may be transient and seizure-induced.
Implications:
- Spontaneously resolving brain lesions in epilepsy patients warrant careful consideration.
- Venous thrombosis should be considered as a potential cause of these transient lesions.
- Understanding these 'disappearing' lesions can help refine diagnostic and treatment strategies for epilepsy.