[Non-convulsive status with hemianopsia and ictal headaches: an uncommon manifestation of parieto-occipital epilepsy]

Neurologia. 2008 Apr;23(3):184-7.
[Article in Spanish]

Abstract

Introduction: Parieto-occipital epilepsy is uncommon disease that usually occurs with positive symptoms such as illusions, visual hallucinations. The pericital headache, with or without migraine-type characteristics, is common symptoms (amaurosis, hemianopsia) are rare.

Clinical case: A 21 year-old woman with a previous medical history of Rendu-Osler disease was admitted to the hospital because of migraine-type headache. Examination revealed homonymous hemianopsia which had not been previously observed. During admission, brief episodes of ocular and cephalic deviation to the left were observed. An electroecephalogram showed frequent seizures arising from the right parieto-occipital region. Symptoms disappeared with antiepileptic drug treatment.

Conclusion: We report a case of parieto-occipital epilepsy with headache and hemianopsia as ictal symptoms. Differential diagnosis must be done basically with migraine attacks. This type of epilepsy may be underdiagnosed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Electroencephalography
  • Epilepsy / diagnosis
  • Epilepsy / physiopathology*
  • Female
  • Headache / etiology
  • Headache / physiopathology*
  • Hemianopsia / etiology
  • Hemianopsia / physiopathology*
  • Humans
  • Migraine Disorders / diagnosis
  • Migraine Disorders / physiopathology