Intractable temporal lobe epilepsy due to ganglioglioma in six children

Background - Gangliogliomas belong to debated nosological entity. They are classified as neuronal or neuroglial tumors. Patients and methods. - Six children aged from 4 months to 15 years (mean age: 4 years and 6 months) were initially seen for partial seizures resistant to treatment Tumoral resection was performed in all six. Diagnosis was made from immunohistological study of the tumor. Discussion. - Gangliogliomas are non-malignant with a good prognosis, even if inaugural clinical manifestations are severe. Neuroradiological diagnosis with astrocytomas and cortical dysplasia is not easy, and pathological distinction from cortical dysplasia is difficult. Conclusion. - The immunohistochemical confirmation of diagnosis permits a logical therapeutic attitude: complete resection of tumor is followed by an excellent outcome. (C) 1998 Elsevier, Paris.