Lesional and non-lesional epilepsies: A blurring genetic boundary

Eur J Paediatr Neurol. 2020 Jan:24:24-29. doi: 10.1016/j.ejpn.2019.12.013. Epub 2019 Dec 12.

Abstract

There has been a traditional conceptual partition between the so-called non-lesional genetic epilepsies and the genetically determined interposed epileptogenic structural abnormalities. In this review, we summarise how growing evidence acquired through neuroimaging and neurobiology modelling is demonstrating that a distinction between lesional and functional (or non-lesional) epileptogenesis is less obvious than previously thought, particularly for epileptogenic neurodevelopmental disorders, but also for most genetically determined epilepsies.

Keywords: Epileptogenic structural abnormalities; Genetic epilepsies; Neurodevelopmental disorders with epilepsy; Phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Developmental Disabilities / complications
  • Developmental Disabilities / diagnosis
  • Developmental Disabilities / genetics*
  • Developmental Disabilities / pathology*
  • Epilepsy / complications
  • Epilepsy / diagnosis
  • Epilepsy / genetics*
  • Epilepsy / pathology*
  • Humans