Long-term outcome in children with intractable epilepsy showing bilateral diffuse cortical glucose hypometabolism pattern on positron emission tomography

J Child Neurol. 2012 Jan;27(1):39-45. doi: 10.1177/0883073811416363. Epub 2011 Sep 22.

Abstract

The objective of this study is to determine the long-term outcome of children with intractable epilepsy who have diffuse cortical hypometabolism on 2-deoxy-2-((18)F)fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) scans. Seventeen children with intractable epilepsy showing bilateral, diffuse cortical hypometabolism on FDG-PET were followed up through telephone interview from 1 year 4 months to 11 years 4 months (mean: 5 years 7 months ± 2 years 1 month) after their PET scans. One child succumbed to Sanfilippo disease at age 20 years. Only 2 children were seizure free. Fifty percent had walking difficulties, 56.25% were not toilet trained, all had speech difficulties, 43.75% had behavioral problems, 37.5% had poor eye contact, 75% had socialization difficulties, and 87.5% attended special schools. Three children were found to have genetic causes, including a 4-MB deletion of the mitochondrial genome, MECP2 duplication, and Lafora disease. In conclusion, the long-term outcome in this patient population is poor, and they tend to suffer from genetic/neurodegenerative diseases.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Brain Mapping
  • Cerebral Cortex / diagnostic imaging*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Developmental Disabilities / diagnostic imaging*
  • Developmental Disabilities / etiology
  • Electroencephalography
  • Epilepsy / pathology*
  • Female
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Glucose / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Positron-Emission Tomography*
  • Retrospective Studies

Substances

  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Glucose