A Rare Cause of Epilepsy: Hypothalamic Hamartoma

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Hypothalamic hamartomas (HHs) are rare congenital malformations of the hypothalamus. They are usually responsible for central precocious puberty and developmental delay and remain the leading cause of gelastic seizures. HHs are usually diagnosed in early childhood. This case report presents a rare case of HH in an adult. A 22-year-old patient with a history of drug-resistant epilepsy. The diagnosis of hypothalamic hamartoma (HH) was made on MR imaging. This case highlights the role of MR imaging in determining the etiology of seizures when the clinical history and EEG findings are nonspecific. MRI is also important in differentiating HH subtypes and providing clinicians with detailed anatomic information, especially when surgery is planned.