BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to establish a treatment strategy for patients with cavernous angiomas and have seizures. METHODS: We analyzed retrospectively 31 patients with cavernous angiomas presenting with seizures. Of the 31 patients, 15 (11 men, 4 women) had been treated medically (the medical group) and 16 (11 men, 5 women) had been treated surgically (the surgical group). The percentage of patients who became seizure-free and the number of anticonvulsants used were compared between these 2 groups. The mean follow-up period was 5.3 years (range, 7 months-10 years). There was no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups with regard to the number of patients, sex, age, and follow-up period. RESULTS: The percentage of patients who became seizure-free was higher in the surgical group than in the medical group (80% vs 19%, P < .01). The number of anticonvulsants required was reduced in the surgical group after surgery (from 1.5 +/- 0.7 to 1.1 +/- 0.8, P < .01) and was not reduced after in the medical group. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical intervention may have greater benefits than medical intervention for patients with cavernous angiomas presenting with epileptic seizures.
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to establish a treatment strategy for patients with cavernous angiomas and have seizures. METHODS: We analyzed retrospectively 31 patients with cavernous angiomas presenting with seizures. Of the 31 patients, 15 (11 men, 4 women) had been treated medically (the medical group) and 16 (11 men, 5 women) had been treated surgically (the surgical group). The percentage of patients who became seizure-free and the number of anticonvulsants used were compared between these 2 groups. The mean follow-up period was 5.3 years (range, 7 months-10 years). There was no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups with regard to the number of patients, sex, age, and follow-up period. RESULTS: The percentage of patients who became seizure-free was higher in the surgical group than in the medical group (80% vs 19%, P < .01). The number of anticonvulsants required was reduced in the surgical group after surgery (from 1.5 +/- 0.7 to 1.1 +/- 0.8, P < .01) and was not reduced after in the medical group. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical intervention may have greater benefits than medical intervention for patients with cavernous angiomas presenting with epilepticseizures.
Authors: Fiona Moultrie; Margaret A Horne; Colin B Josephson; Julie M Hall; Carl E Counsell; Jo J Bhattacharya; Vakis Papanastassiou; Robin J Sellar; Charles P Warlow; Gordon D Murray; Rustam Al-Shahi Salman Journal: Neurology Date: 2014-07-03 Impact factor: 9.910