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Abdominal epilepsy in an adolescent with bilateral perisylvian polymicrogyria
D García-Herrero1, J L Fernández-Torre, J Barrasa
1Servicio de Neurofisiología Clínica, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander, Spain.
Purpose:
We report a patient with recurrent episodes of severe periumbilical pain accompanied by headache, pallor, dizziness, and visual hallucinations who was subsequently diagnosed as having abdominal epilepsy and a bilateral sylvian cortical malformation.
Methods And Results:
During an EEG examination, the patient had a simple partial seizure, manifested as intense abdominal pain. The ictal EEG showed a focal electrographic seizure arising from the left frontotemporal region. Computed tomography scan was normal; however, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed asymmetric lesions involving both sylvian fissures compatible with polymicrogyria. Onset of treatment with sodium valproate was followed by a significant reduction of seizures.
Conclusions:
Abdominal epilepsy should be suspected in adolescents or adults with paroxysmal episodes of abdominal pain associated with migraine-like symptoms. EEG and MRI investigations are indicated. A developmental brain disorder should be considered as a possible etiology.