[Value of an electroencephalogram in a patient with transient neurological symptoms]

A seven year old boy had several episodes of dysfunction of the left hemisphere. The only sign on physical examination was a very slight facial asymmetry on the right side. The CT scan with and without contrast enhancement was normal. Because of a marked asymmetry of the EEG, duplex scan examination of the carotid arteries was carried out; it showed a flow disturbance of the left carotid artery. Angiography showed a narrowing of the supraclinoidal portion of the internal carotid artery which was considered to be due to angiitis. As the boy was known to have bronchitis and eczema and the blood tests showed a marked increase of eosinophil cells, he was treated with corticosteroids. At follow-up after three months the EEG and the duplex scan were normal. There had been no TIAs since the start of the treatment.