Our aim is to discuss the impact and the meaning of a convulsive disorder in children with brain tumors. A total of 86 patients, 0 to 15 years old who have been treated in the years 1968 to 1982, is considered. The patients are divided into three groups: Group I: patients without seizures (70 cases = 81.5%); Group II: patients whose seizures arose before diagnosis (9 cases = 10,5%); Group III: patients whose seizures arose after the diagnosis (7 cases = 8%). The most interesting clinical and instrumental data are illustrated in order to identify the main peculiarities of subjects with seizures. As far as Group II is concerned, we stress that: clinical proof of precise aetiological factors is absent; seizures are the first symptom of tumor; partial seizures are predominant; EEG data and tumor location are coherent; tumors are supratentorial, with prevalence of astrocytomas. The characteristics of Group III, on the other hand, are: early symptoms are related to increased intracranial pressure; medulloblastoma is the most common type of tumour; there is a long period of time between early clinical signs and diagnosis of tumour; seizures, mainly generalized, appear at some distance from the surgical treatment. As to previous studies, it seems meaningful that, in most Group II patients, convulsive disorder appears as an isolated seizure. It stands therefore for a neurological symptom, not for the beginning of epilepsy. About Group III, it is not possible to correlate clinical and instrumental data with the beginning of seizures. The authors point out that a partial seizure which arose before puberty, in the absence of precise aetiological factors, may give rise to suspicion of a brain tumour.
Le crisi epilettiche sintomatiche di tumore cerebrale: contributo casistico (indagine condotta su 86 soggetti in età evolutiva).
CAPIZZI, Giorgio;MASSAGLIA, Pia
1984-01-01
Abstract
Our aim is to discuss the impact and the meaning of a convulsive disorder in children with brain tumors. A total of 86 patients, 0 to 15 years old who have been treated in the years 1968 to 1982, is considered. The patients are divided into three groups: Group I: patients without seizures (70 cases = 81.5%); Group II: patients whose seizures arose before diagnosis (9 cases = 10,5%); Group III: patients whose seizures arose after the diagnosis (7 cases = 8%). The most interesting clinical and instrumental data are illustrated in order to identify the main peculiarities of subjects with seizures. As far as Group II is concerned, we stress that: clinical proof of precise aetiological factors is absent; seizures are the first symptom of tumor; partial seizures are predominant; EEG data and tumor location are coherent; tumors are supratentorial, with prevalence of astrocytomas. The characteristics of Group III, on the other hand, are: early symptoms are related to increased intracranial pressure; medulloblastoma is the most common type of tumour; there is a long period of time between early clinical signs and diagnosis of tumour; seizures, mainly generalized, appear at some distance from the surgical treatment. As to previous studies, it seems meaningful that, in most Group II patients, convulsive disorder appears as an isolated seizure. It stands therefore for a neurological symptom, not for the beginning of epilepsy. About Group III, it is not possible to correlate clinical and instrumental data with the beginning of seizures. The authors point out that a partial seizure which arose before puberty, in the absence of precise aetiological factors, may give rise to suspicion of a brain tumour.
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