Brain tumors associated with infantile spasms.

Two patients with brain tumors associated with infantile spasms are reported. Both infants displayed typical clinical features of infantile spasms, comprising tonic spasms manifesting in series and hypsarrythmia. In Patient 1, magnetic resonance imaging revealed a tumor in the hypothalamic region, suggestive of hypothalamic hamartoma. In Patient 2, cranial computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging indicated the existence of a primary brain tumor with calcification in the right temporal lobe. Adrenocorticotropic hormone therapy combined with clonazepam relieved seizures in both infants. In Patient 1, resection of the hypothalamic tumor is impossible because the tumor lacks a stalk. In Patient 2, pathologic investigation of removed tumor tissue demonstrated mixed-oligoastrocytoma. It is suggested that focal lesions, like those in our patients, are involved in the development of infantile spasms.