Significance of FDG-PET Hypermetabolism in Children with Intractable Focal Epilepsy.

Background: Interictal 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission topography (FDG-PET) hypometabolism is routinely used in the presurgical workup of children with medically intractable epilepsy (MIE). FDG-PET hypermetabolism, however, is rarely seen, and the significance of this finding in the epilepsy workup is not well established.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study of patients who underwent FDG-PET during the presurgical workup of MIE over a 4-year period, between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2013, at the Children's Hospital Colorado, CO, USA.

The role of EEG in the diagnosis and classification of the epilepsy syndromes: a tool for clinical practice by the ILAE Neurophysiology Task Force (Part 2).

The concept of epilepsy syndromes, introduced in 1989, was defined as "clusters of signs and symptoms customarily occurring together". Definition of epilepsy syndromes based on electro-clinical features facilitated clinical practice and, whenever possible, clinical research in homogeneous groups of patients with epilepsies. Progress in the fields of neuroimaging and genetics made it rapidly clear that, although crucial, the electro-clinical description of epilepsy syndromes was not sufficient to allow much needed development of targeted therapies and a better understanding of the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of seizures.

The role of EEG in the diagnosis and classification of the epilepsy syndromes: a tool for clinical practice by the ILAE Neurophysiology Task Force (Part 1).

The concept of epilepsy syndromes, introduced in 1989, was defined as "clusters of signs and symptoms customarily occurring together". Definition of epilepsy syndromes based on electro-clinical features facilitated clinical practice and, whenever possible, clinical research in homogeneous groups of patients with epilepsies. Progress in the fields of neuroimaging and genetics made it rapidly clear that, although crucial, the electro-clinical description of epilepsy syndromes was not sufficient to allow much needed development of targeted therapies and a better understanding of the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of seizures.

Insular epilepsy surgery.

Since it was originally described nearly 70 years ago, insular epilepsy has been increasingly recognized and may explain failures after apparently well-planned operations. We review the history of awareness of the phenomenon, techniques for its assessment, and its surgical management. Insular epilepsy can mimic features of frontal, parietal, or temporal seizures.

Persistent hiccups associated with epidural ropivacaine in a newborn.

Objective: To report a case of persistent hiccups associated with epidural ropivacaine in a newborn infant.

Case Summary: A term female infant (3.05 kg) received epidural ropivacaine for pain control during and after an operative procedure to correct a tracheoesophageal fistula.

Hemispherectomy in a premature neonate with linear sebaceous nevus syndrome.

A male neonate with seizures, linear sebaceous nevus syndrome and hemimegalencephaly underwent hemispherectomy at 36 weeks' gestational age. He has had no clinical seizures in the 13 months since surgery but continues to have sharp wave activity over some parts of the intact hemisphere. He has moderate developmental delay and a mild hemiparesis but is making developmental progress.