J Korean Epilepsy Soc.  2001 Jun;5(1):41-45.

Clinical Characteristics of Occipital Lobe Epilepsy in Children

• Kim SH
• Lee JS
• Park JC
• Kim HD

Abstract

PURPOSE: To evaluate the differential clinical & electroencephalographic characteristics between benign childhood epilepsy with occipital paroxysm (BCEOP) and symptomatic occipital lobe epilepsy (SOLE).
METHODS
Nine patients of BCEOP and seven patients of SOLE diagnosed at the department of pediatrics and epilepsy center in Inje University Sang-gye Paik Hospital from March 1992 to June 1998, were studied for the determination of differential characteristics between the two groups. Clinical features, EEG characteristics, MRI findings, associated conditions, and prognosis were investigated and compared between these groups. RESULT: 1) Male : female ratio was 1 : 2 in BCEOP and 1 : 2.5 in SOLE. 2) Seizure onset age was older in SOLE as compared with BCEOP. 3) There was no significant difference in seizure types between two groups. 4) Visual aura could be elicited in 5 patients (55.6%) in BCEOP, and 3 patients (42.9%) in SOLE. 5) Ictus emeticus was only noted in 4 patients (44.4%) of BCEOP. 6) Migraine was associated only in 3 patients of BCEOP. 7) Background EEG abnormality was more frequently associated in SOLE than BCEOP. 8) Seizure control was inefficient only in 3 patients (42.9%) of SOLE, and all patients with BCEOP were successfully treated with antiepileptic drugs.
CONCLUSION
SOLE showed higher seizure onset age, less frequent association of ictus emeticus and migraine, more frequent background EEG abnormalities and more medical intractability to antiepileptic drugs than BCEOP.

Keyword

Benign childhood epilepsy with occipital paroxysm (BCEOP); Symptomatic occipital lobe epilepsy (SOLE); Electroencephalograph (EEG); Childhood epilepsy

MeSH Terms

Age of Onset
Anticonvulsants
Child*
Electroencephalography
Epilepsies, Partial*
Epilepsy
Female
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Migraine Disorders
Occipital Lobe*
Pediatrics
Prognosis
Seizures
Anticonvulsants