Periventricular nodular heterotopia and childhood absence epilepsy

A young female presented with an epileptic syndrome resembling childhood ab sence epilepsy, a normal neurologic examination, generalized 3-Hz spike-and -wave discharges, and clinical absences. Her seizures responded to treatmen t with valproic acid. Other abnormalities in her electroencephalogram promp ted neuroimaging studies, which demonstrated periventricular nodular hetero topia, Review of published reports confirmed this presentation to be atypic al of this developmental lesion. The authors describe their patient and dis cuss this unexpected association and the relevant reports briefly. (C) 1999 by Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.