Characteristics of epilepsy in focal cortical dysplasia in infancy.

To describe the poorly known characteristics of epilepsy during infancy in focal cortical dysplasia (FCD), one of the most frequent cause of infantile epilepsy. All 28 patients with FCD referred to two specialized centres were retrospectively studied regarding seizure characteristics, psychomotor evaluation, and response to medical and surgical treatment. All patients presented with early partial seizures. Semiology, but not the age of onset, depended on the topography of the dysplasia, with abnormal eye movements in all cases of posterior FCD. Eleven patients also developed infantile spasms (IS), mainly asymmetrical. IS were easily controlled with Vigabatrin or ACTH, but no partial seizures could be medically controlled except in one patient. All patients except one had abnormal neuropsychological findings. Fifteen patients had surgery, eight became seizure free, and seven were significantly improved regarding psychomotor development. Very early and refractory partial seizures, but easily controlled IS are the main characteristics of FCD in infancy. Only the focal ictal semiology may help differentiate the localization of FCD. Its intrinsic epileptogenicity could sustain this clinical pattern. Since the chances for medical control and normal neurodevelopment are poor, surgical treatment should be considered early in infants with FCD. Copyright 2002 Elsevier Science B.V.