We describe the electroclinical features, therapy, and long-term evolution of 17 patients with migrating focal seizures in infancy, and analyzed the charts of these patients seen between February 1985 and July 2005. Three different electroclinical patterns were recognized: (1) 8 cases with alternating simple focal motor seizures at onset. The ictal electroencephalography (EEG) pattern was characterized by recurrence of rhythmic focal spikes or rhythmic sharp activity in the Rolandic region; (2) 5 cases with complex focal seizures and progressive appearance of polymorphic delta- activity in 1 temporo-occipital region recurring independently; (3) 4 cases with focal complex seizures with motor manifestations. Ictal EEG showed flattening or fast activity in 1 frontotemporal region followed by unilateral fast poly-spikes in alternating clusters in both hemispheres. The focal seizures were refractory to antiepileptic drugs, and all patients except 3 had severe developmental delay. Migrating focal seizures in infancy is a newly defined and rare, but underrecognized, epileptic encephalopathy.

Summary:Purpose: Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is probably more difficult to recognize in children than in adults. In fact, ictal symptoms in children are less stereotyped and less obvious, and the neuropathological substrate is more heterogeneous than in adults. The aim of this study is to examine the relationships between etiology, age at onset and electroclinical findings in 77 children with TLE, 32 of whom were surgically treated.Methods: Electroclinical study including video-EEG recording of seizures in 77 children with TLE. The investigation focused on the first five initial ictal symptoms.Results: Age at onset was less than 3 years in 39 cases, between 3 and 6 years in 17 cases and older than 6 years in 21 cases. Auras also occurred in younger children but were more common after the age of 6 years. A peculiar initial ictal semiology consisted in staring with arrest, lip cyanosis, and very slight oral automatisms.In some cases, EEG recordings documented seizures starting independently on both temporal lobes. Based on electroclinical and neuroradiological features, we recognized three subgroups: symptomatic TLE due to cortical malformations or nonevolutive tumors, TLE with mesial temporal sclerosis, and cryptogenic TLE.Conclusions: A correct electroclinical and neuroradiological approach allows in several cases early recognition of TLE even when onset is earlier than the age of 6 years. A correct definition of the localization relies primarily on video-EEG recording of the seizures, possibly repeated during follow up in cases lacking obvious neuroradiological correlation.