The epilepsy associated with focal cortical dysplasia remains a major challenge, but early recognition of the disorder will allow clinicians to consider the possibility of resective surgery, which has been shown to eliminate seizures in some patients.
- A recent review of the medical literature found that most children with focal cortical dysplasia have intractable focal epilepsy.
- The epilepsy observed in patients with focal cortical dysplasia is related to activation of the mTOR pathway and altered receptor neurotransmission.
- The literature review discusses the epidemiology, natural history, and mechanisms that precipitate seizures in children with focal cortical dysplasia.
- Between 25% and 29% of children in a surgical series had focal cortical dysplasia.
Challenges in managing epilepsy associated with focal cortical dysplasia in children. Epilepsy Res. 2018;145:1-17.
