Clinical features of epilepsy secondary to brain tumors in children

Qiang Zhaozhan; Li Yingliang; Liang Ping; Wang Difei; Zhai Xuan

doi:10.11850/j.issn.1009-122X.2017.08.003

Abstract：Objective To explore the clinical features of the epilepsy secondary to brain tumors in children. Methods The clinical data of 38 patients with epilepsy secondary to brain tumors, including the growth site and pathology of the tumors, types of epileptic seizure, expression of electroencephalogram (EEG), the surgical treatment and prognosis, were analyzed retrospectively. Results Pediatric brain tumors leading to secondary epilepsy onset located mainly at the frontal and temporal lobes, while were relatively rare in the parietal lobe , occipital lobe , island leaves ( P< 0 . 05 ) . The neuronal and mixed neuronal-glial tumors were more common in pathological classification, followed by oligodendroglioma. Frontal lobe tumors caused mainly generalized tonic-clonic seizures, while temporal lobe tumors did complex partial seizures, there being a significant difference between the two types (P<0.05). Scalp EEG abnormalities presented mainly as the sharp wave or sharp-and-slow wave. The main surgical approach was total resection of the tumor and resection of epileptic foci. The patients were followed up for 3 to 15 months, recovery was achieved in 32 patients, tumor recurrence seen in 4, and death in 2. The prognosis of epilepsy achieved Engel Ⅰ in 28 patients and Engel Ⅱ-Ⅳ in 8. Conclusions The main brain tumors leading to epilepsy in children are benign tumors. Surgery is the most effective treatment. Resection of tumor and epileptogenic zone are more effective. For better clinical prognosis, the treatment strategy should be early resection of the tumor and epileptic foci.