Tumori cerebrali ed epilessia: Descrizione di una popolazione pediatrica

Epileptic seizures as a sign of cerebral tumours in children have been regarded as uncommon. We have studied 130 cases presenting with a primary brain tumour to a Paediatric Oncology Unit; 15 of the 130 patiens (11.5%) presented with epilepsy and in 9 of them seizures occurred before tumour diagnosis; 11 had supratentorial tumours and 4 tumours of the posterior fossa; electroencephalography showed focal abnormalities ipsilateral to the tumour in 73%. Early surgery and antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) were useful in the control of tumour-related seizures; nevertheless epileptic focus and AEDs also as prophylaxis may play a role in the genesis of cognitive dysfunction.