EPILEPTIC LAUGHTER AND PRECOCIOUS PUBERTY DUE TO HYPOTHALAMIC HAMARTOMA - A CASE-REPORT WITH REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

A 16-month-old boy who presented with gelastic seizures and central pr ecocious puberty due to hypothalamic hamartoma is presented. Focal sei zure activity with secondary generalisation was documented by the elec troencephalogram. The condition was partially controlled by carbamazep ine. The central precocious puberty, which was confirmed biochemically by a brisk pubertal rise of gonadotropin in response to leutenising h ormone-releasing hormone, was also controlled by a LHRH long-acting an alogue. The literature and the current controversy in the management o f this condition are reviewed.