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. 2022 Oct 11:9:2329048X221131445.
doi: 10.1177/2329048X221131445. eCollection 2022 Jan-Dec.

Epilepsy and Electroencephalogram Characteristics in Children with Neurofibromatosis Type 1, What We Have Learned from a Tertiary Center Five Years' Experience

Abdulhafeez M Khair  1 , Stephen Falchek  1 , Rahul Nikam  2 , Gurcharanjeet Kaur  1
Affiliations

Epilepsy and Electroencephalogram Characteristics in Children with Neurofibromatosis Type 1, What We Have Learned from a Tertiary Center Five Years' Experience

Abdulhafeez M Khair et al. Child Neurol Open. .

Abstract

Introduction: Neurofibromatosis type 1(NF-1) is the commonest neurocutaneous phacomatosis in children. Epilepsy is an infrequent comorbidity. Reports of seizure and Electroencephalogram (EEG) characteristics in children are sparse. Methods: A retrospective review was performed on patients with NF-1 seen between 2016-2020. Patients with co-existing epilepsy were identified. Demographic, clinical, radiological and neurophysiological data were reviewed and analyzed. Results: Out of 118 children with NF1, 16 had epilepsy. 11 patients had focal onset seizures, whereas 5 had generalized onset seizures. Most patients had easy seizure control. Focal epileptiform discharges were the most prevalent EEG abnormality. There was no significant correlation between seizure patterns and presence of intracranial tumors. Conclusion: Epilepsy is a relatively uncommon in pediatric NF-1. Seizures are often of focal semiology and likely to be easily controlled. Focal and multifocal spike epileptiform discharges are the typical interictal EEG findings. Correlation of clinical and EEG findings with intracranial lesions is poor.

Keywords: EEG; brain tumor; children; epilepsy; neurofibromatosis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
10-year-old female with NF-1 & no brain tumor. EEG showing frequent, focal, right sided temporal spikes T4/T6 with a field to C4.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
8-year-old male with NF-1 with no brain tumor and focal epilepsy. EEG showing sleep-activated focal left frontal F7 spikes epileptiform discharges.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
8-year-old female with NF-1, brain stem tectal glioma and focal epilepsy. EEG showing multi-focal right centro—parietal C4/P4 and independent left centro-temporal C3/T3 spike epileptiform discharges.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
7-year-old male with NF-1 and midbrain low grade glioma. EEG showing hyperventilation-provoked absence seizure with diffuse, high amplitude, 3 Hz spike/polyspike wave discharges, suggestive of generalized epilepsy.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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