Dyke-Davidoff-Masson Syndrome: An Unusual Cause of Status Epilepticus and Refractory Seizures

J Coll Physicians Surg Pak. 2018 Jun;28(6):S99-S101. doi: 10.29271/jcpsp.2018.06.S99.

Abstract

Dyke-Davidoff-Masson Syndrome (DDMS) is a rare neurological condition characterised by drug-resistance seizures, hemiparesis, mental retardation, facial asymmetry, and intellectual disabilities. On brain imaging, the disease is characterised by cerebral hemiatrophy with ipsilateral calvarial thickening and hyperpneumotisation of paranasal sinuses or mastoid air cells. Although more common in men and on the left side of the brain, the disease can affect both genders and cerebral hemispheres. It mainly presents in childhood. The adult presentation is unusual but has been reported in medical literature. Most of the patients need more than one antiepileptic agent for optimal control of seizures. Hemispherectomy is reserved for patients who have drug-resistant and disabling seizures. The good prognostic factors are disease onset before age of two and better seizure control. We report two cases of DDMS occurring in teenage boys who presented with status epilepticus. The clinical histories, radiological findings, and treatment of both patients are discussed below.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Atrophy / diagnostic imaging*
  • Atrophy / pathology
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging*
  • Carbamazepine / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Levetiracetam / therapeutic use
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Paresis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Seizures / diagnosis*
  • Seizures / drug therapy
  • Status Epilepticus / diagnostic imaging*
  • Status Epilepticus / drug therapy

Substances

  • Carbamazepine
  • Levetiracetam