Surgical treatment of epilepsy in a patient with bilateral periventricular nodular heterotopia: A case report

Abstract

Background: Periventricular nodular heterotopia (PNH) is a rare pathological condition characterized by the presence of nodules of gray matter located along the lateral ventricles of the brain. The condition typically presents with seizures and other neurological symptoms, and various methods of surgical treatment and postoperative outcomes have been described in the literature. Case Description: We present a case study of a 17-year-old patient who has been experiencing seizures since the age of 13. The patient reported episodes of loss of consciousness and periodic freezing with preservation of posture. Two years later, the patient experienced his first generalized tonic-clonic seizure during nocturnal sleep and was subsequently admitted to a neurological department. A magnetic resonance imaging scan of the brain with an epilepsy protocol (3 Tesla) confirmed the presence of an extended bilateral subependymal nodular heterotopy at the level of the temporal and occipital horns of the lateral ventricles, which was larger on the left side, and a focal subcortical heterotopy of the right cerebellar hemisphere. The patient underwent a posterior quadrant disconnection surgery, which aimed to isolate the extensive epileptogenic zone in the left temporal, parietal, and occipital lobes using standard techniques. As of today, 6 months have passed since the surgery and there have been no registered epileptic seizures during this period following the surgical treatment. Conclusion: Although PNHs can be extensive and located bilaterally, surgical intervention may still be an effective way to achieve seizure control in selected cases.