Sturge-Weber syndrome: a favourable surgical outcome in a case with contralateral seizure onset and myoclonic-astatic seizures

Epileptic Disord. 2011 Mar;13(1):76-81. doi: 10.1684/epd.2011.0407.

Abstract

Sturge-Weber syndrome is a neurocutaneous disorder classically characterized by the presence of facial port-wine stain and ipsilateral leptomeningeal angiomatosis. It is often associated with refractory epilepsy which requires surgical treatment. We present a case of a patient who initially presented with partial seizures of temporo-occipital origin, ipsilateral to the pial angiomatosis. During the course of the disease, the patient developed medically refractory epilepsy with partial seizures originating predominantly from the contralateral temporo-occipital area as well as myoclonic and myoclonic-astatic seizures. Resection of the occipital and temporal lobe affected by the pial angioma resulted in favourable outcome. Bilateral dysfunction observed in Sturge-Weber syndrome may result in an increased capability of focal discharges to generate synchronous epileptiform activity leading to an increased incidence of generalised seizures, most probably via a mechanism of secondary bilateral synchrony. [Published with video sequences].

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Brain / physiopathology
  • Brain / surgery*
  • Child
  • Electroencephalography
  • Epilepsies, Myoclonic / physiopathology
  • Epilepsies, Myoclonic / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Sturge-Weber Syndrome / physiopathology
  • Sturge-Weber Syndrome / surgery*
  • Treatment Outcome