Centrencephalic epilepsy and suboccipital derivations

1. The application of suboccipital electrodes provides earlier and safer detection of pathological activities within deep infratentorial structures than the standard recording techniques. 2. Spike and wave complexes are better differentiated with regard to frequency, duration and possible primary focus, which is of basic importance in determining the optimal therapy; 3. The combinations with chemical activation methods increases the number of positive findings and thus contributes to a better diagnosis. 4. The technical procedure is not complicated or dangerous for the patient. It causes less pain and inconvenience than the application of the needle in sphenoidal electrodes; 5. Suboccipital electrodes applied alone or in combination with the scalp and sometimes with sphenoidal electrodes represent the simplest technique of recording and detecting deeply located focal centres as well as electrographic changes originating in deep infratentorial structures, without damaging the meninges.