Fronto-polar epilepsy masquerading as juvenile myoclonic epilepsy

Epileptic Disord. 2011 Sep;13(3):317-20. doi: 10.1684/epd.2011.0449.

Abstract

A woman diagnosed with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy for over 30 years presented with stereotyped episodes of abnormal sensations in both arms. Continuous video-EEG monitoring for 14 days and MRI brain revealed that the patient's somatosensory events with associated postictal aphasia, as well as her myoclonic and generalised tonic-clonic seizures, were likely due to a symptomatic left fronto-polar epilepsy. Our case emphasizes the need for clinicians to consider fronto-polar epilepsy as a potential cause of myoclonic seizures, particularly when associated with other semiologic features suggestive of frontal lobe epilepsy. [Published with video sequences].

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anticonvulsants / therapeutic use
  • Brain / pathology
  • Carbamazepine / therapeutic use
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Electroencephalography
  • Epilepsy, Frontal Lobe / diagnosis*
  • Epilepsy, Frontal Lobe / pathology
  • Epilepsy, Frontal Lobe / surgery
  • Epilepsy, Generalized / diagnosis
  • Epilepsy, Generalized / etiology
  • Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic / diagnosis
  • Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic / etiology
  • Female
  • Frontal Lobe / pathology
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Middle Aged
  • Myoclonic Epilepsy, Juvenile / diagnosis*
  • Myoclonic Epilepsy, Juvenile / pathology
  • Myoclonic Epilepsy, Juvenile / surgery
  • Neurosurgical Procedures
  • Seizures / physiopathology
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Anticonvulsants
  • Carbamazepine