Benign Childhood Partial Seizures and Related Epileptic Syndromes (Current problems in epilepsy: 15)

Abstract

Partial epilepsies had been considered to reflect localized organic lesions until benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BCECT) was delineated. This had also been the case with partial epilepsies in infancy, and the prognosis of partial epilepsies in infancy had been considered unfavorable until we described benign partial epilepsies in infancy (BPEI). The current International Classification lists BCECT, childhood epilepsy with occipital paroxysms (CEOP) and primary reading epilepsy as idiopathic partial epileptic syndromes. Among these syndromes, BCECT, more appropriately called rolandic epilepsy or benign childhood centrogyral seizure/epilepsy after Panayiotopoulos, is the most common epileptic syndrome in children. It is only recently that the presence of early onset benign childhood occipital seizures has been recognized. This syndrome is the second most common syndrome of benign childhood partial seizures and has been delineated and extensively studied by Panayiotopoulos, the author of this extraordinary book. CEOP or late onset benign childhood occipital seizure/epilepsy is far less common than early onset type or Panayiotopoulos syndrome. These benign childhood partial seizures and related epileptic syndromes are, by virtue of high prevalence and excellent prognosis, the most commonest and most rewarding experience in the every day practice of general pediatrics and pediatric neurology, even though the importance of syndromic classification is still not widely recognized. It is important to make an accurate syndromic diagnosis and give a full explanation of their benign nature to the family and not to treat these syndromes aggressively.