Introduction: Subcortical band heterotopia (SBH) is a neuronal migration disorder that may cause refractory epilepsy. In these patients, resective surgery has yielded inadequate results. Corpus callosotomy is palliative surgery for the treatment of refractory epilepsy with good results especially in the patients with drop attacks.
We describe the three patients with subcortical band heterotopia who were submitted to total corpus callosotomy, with evaluation of seizure outcome after 14-17 months of follow-up.
Methods: Cases were all female and had their first seizure in two months, twenty months and 4 years old. All cases had intractable tonic or atonic seizures. Two cases had episodes of traumatic injury by drop attacks. All cases presented SBH in MR image and were diagnosed generalized epilepsy by electroencephalogram, suggested diffuse foci of epilepsy.
Results: Two cases were previously failed by vagus nerve stimulation therapy. Total corpus callosotomy were submitted in their seven, eight and thirty-four years old. All cases showed 50-70% decrease in seizure frequency and free from drop attacks. Two cases developed transient mutism but no permanent deficit.
Conclusions: Corpus callosotomy is effective for the patients with intractable epilepsy caused by bilaterally-diffuse SBH.
Patient Care: This results identify an effective treatment for the patients with intractable epilepsy caused by subcortical band heterotopia.
Learning Objectives: By the conclusion of this session, participants should be able to discuss the effectiveness of corpus callosotomy for the patients with intractable epilepsy caused by subcortical band heterotopia.