All issues > Volume 51(10); 2008

Original Article

Korean J Pediatr. 2008;51(10):1085-1089. Published online October 15, 2008.

Comparative study of typical and atypical benign epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (Rolandic epilepsy)

Junhyuk JH Song¹, Kyuha KH Lee¹, Sajun SJ Chung¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Kyunghee University, Seoul, Korea

Correspondence Sajun SJ Chung ,Email: sajchung@khmc.or.kr

Abstract

Purpose
: This study aims to examine and compare the features of rolandic epilepsy.
Methods
: Of 158 patients selected retrospectively, 116 had typical (group A) and 42 had atypical (group B) rolandic epilepsy, as defined by Worrall's criteria.
Results
: The age at onset of the seizures in group A was 8.6¡¾2.0 y and 6.2¡¾1.7 y in group B (P>0.05). Among the 40 patients who underwent neuroimaging studies (25 patients in group A and 15 patients in group B), abnormal findings in group B included ventricular dilatation, mild cortical atrophy, and partial agenesis of corpus callosum. group A had no abnormal findings. The frequency of seizures was 2.0¡¾1.0 and 2.3¡¾1.2 per month in groups A and B respectively. Seizure control from the initial anticonvulsant treatment was achieved within 3 months in group A, and 3 to 12 months in group B. A 2-year remission rate was noted in 105 patients in group A and in 38 patients in group B. Of these, the recurrence rate after 2 y was 13 in group A and 12 in group B.
Conclusion
: Age of onset of seizures, gender, frequency of seizures before therapy, and 2-y remission rate were not significantly different in the 2 groups. However, neuroimaging abnormalities, the time to achieving seizure control from the initial anticonvulsant treatment, and the recurrence rate after being seizure-free for 2 y were significantly different in the 2 groups.

Keywords :Benign epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECT), Typical benign rolandic epilepsy, Atypical benign