Houston Medical
The patient in this case had a history of seizures. Drug treatments had little or no effect on the seizure activity. Seizure episodes would progress from the patient staring into space to full grand mal seizure activity.
Seizures restricted his normal life activities and meant that supervision was required for physical activities. Some things, like tree climbing, were not possible. Further, seizures affected how he viewed the world and how others treated him. Psychological effects were significant.
Early imaging tests on his brain showed structural abnormality, though relatively subtle. Further diagnostic testing included having surgeons place electrodes on the surface of the brain to record abnormal activities and brain functioning. Patient was diagnosed with epilepsy caused by the abnormality.
If left untreated, the abnormality wouldn't have increased or become lethal, but the seizures could have been. The dilemma for the family was whether to choose continued medical management or surgery and its risks to remove the abnormality.
With uncontrolled seizures, the patient would have suffered increasing psychosocial problems including educational, employment and companionship problems. Death during seizure activity was also a possibility.
Treatment/outcome: From the results of diagnostic testing, doctors were confident that abnormal area of brain could be successfully removed. Surgery removed from the temporal lobe a golf ball-sized mass. Procedure was a success.
Dr. James Wheless
Dr. James Wheless is board certified in pediatrics, psychiatry and neurology with special qualifications in pediatric neurology and clinical neurophysiology.
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