AI Article Synopsis

  • An 18-year-old boy with refractory epilepsy and aggression due to a hypothalamic hamartoma underwent a stereotactic thermocoagulation procedure aimed at disconnecting the hamartoma from key brain structures.
  • The surgical planning utilized advanced imaging techniques, integrating MRI with CT and a digital brain atlas to accurately target the lesion.
  • Post-surgery, the patient showed significant improvements, with reduced aggression and a dramatic decrease in seizure frequency, with benefits maintained over 24 months.

Article Abstract

An 18-year-old boy with refractory epilepsy and aggressiveness associated to a hypothalamic hamartoma was submitted to a stereotactically guided lesion by thermocoagulation. The target was based on magnetic resonance (MR) images merged with computed tomography scan images taken on the day of surgery while patient was on a stereotactic frame. In order to reveal structures not discernible in MR images, the Schaltenbrand digital brain atlas was merged onto the patient's images. Target and trajectory of the depth electrode were chosen based on three-dimensional imaging reconstructions. A surgical plan was devised to disconnect the hypothalamic hamartoma from the hypothalamus, medial forebrain bundle, fasciculus princeps, and dorsal longitudinal fasciculus. Our target was placed at the inferior portion of the posterolateral component of the hamartoma, bordering the normal hypothalamus. The patient evolved with marked lessening of aggressiveness. Seizure frequency was reduced from several seizures per day to less than one tonic-clonic seizure during sleep per month and only two episodes suggestive of partial complex seizures during daytime. These results have remained consistent over a 24-month postoperative follow-up. Functional neuroanatomy of hypothalamic connections involved in seizure propagation and aggressive behavior was reviewed.

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http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10143-008-0142-8DOI Listing

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