Seizure-induced inflammation in focal cortical dysplasia resulting in imaging progression that simulates neoplasia.

A 5-year-old girl with previously well-controlled partial epilepsy secondary to focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) developed an increase in seizure frequency. Two months later, magnetic resonance showed a substantial alteration in lesion imaging characteristics. The lesion was resected. FCD was confirmed but inflammatory changes were also present. We propose that chronic inflammation was induced by unremitting seizure activity and suggest that inflammation may be implicated as a basis for alteration in the imaging characteristics of FCD.