EEG Findings, Pathological, and Clinical Correlation, in Childhood Brain Tumors.
Abstract number :
3.084
Submission category :
Year :
2000
Submission ID :
1748
Source :
www.aesnet.org
Presentation date :
12/2/2000 12:00:00 AM
Published date :
Dec 1, 2000, 06:00 AM
Authors :
Asuri N Prasad, Corey Burton, Jacob C Jacob, Chitra Pushpanathan, David J Buckley, Lawrence Jardine, John P Hand, Falah Maroun, Children's Hosp, The Health Science Ctr, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Memorial Univ of Newfoundland, St John's, NF, Canada; Janeway C
RATIONALE: Electroencephalography (EEG) is less often used in the diagnosis of children with brain tumors, but retains an important role in the investigation of seizures. The electroencephalographer therefore should be aware of clinical and pathological correlates for abnormalities on EEG. METHODS: The childhood cancer registry maintained presently at the Janeway Child Health Centre was used to identify children diagnosed with brain tumors (1967-1997). Clinical presentation, imaging findings, EEG and pathology reports were collected by chart review, and entered into a computerized database. RESULTS: There were 111 of 189 children with brain tumors, who fulfilled inclusion criteria. Of 111 EEG reports, 35 were normal, 76 were abnormal. Only 2 of 35 normal EEG reports had epileptic seizures as a feature. The remaining 33 presented with headache, ataxia, vomiting, focal motor or sensory signs. Imaging studies revealed; location in the posterior fossa (27), basal forebrain (4), midline (2), and one in the midline with lateral extension. Of the abnormal EEG, 21 had epileptic seizures, the remaining 55 did not. Other EEG findings included; 1 (unclassified), 5 (Normal Bkgd.), 25 (diffuse slow), 42 (focal slow), and 3 (intermittent slow), findings that were of lateralizing value in 45. Interictal epileptiform abnormalities were seen in 17 (8 with a history of seizures vs. 9 without seizures). Imaging studies in these 17 children revealed; 10 (supratentorial), 6 (infratentorial) and one (midline) in location. Three children with infratentorial tumors showed generalized/diffusely distributed epileptiform patterns. Amongst patients with seizures, the following histological tumor types were encountered; astrocytomas (14), glioblastoma (4), craniopharyngioma (1), and PNET (1). CONCLUSIONS: In children with brain tumors, a normal EEG, argues against the likelihood of a supratentorial parenchymous lesion. An abnormal EEG, on the other hand does not offer specific clues to tumor location, and the presence or absence of seizures.