Benign partial epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes. clinical and electroencephalographic findings

Benign partial epilepsy with centrotemporal (CT) spikes (BECT) is one of the most frequent forms of partial epileptic seizures in childhood. The author analyzes the character, frequency of seizures and EEG findings in this form of epilepsy in a group of 20 children (10 boys and 10 girls) aged 3-12 years. The first seizure occurred at the age of 2 11/12 to 11 10/12 years. Eleven children (55 %) had the seizure at the age of 5-7 years, only one child before the age of 5 years. The seizures occurred mostly during the night while the child was asleep (16 children, 80 %) as well as when falling asleep or when awakening. Two children had seizures only in daytime, two children during sleep and in daytime. Simple partial seizures (SPS) were typical in 14 children (70 %) corresponding to a focus in the sensomotor cortex. 30 % children had slightly generalized seizures (GS), 4 children SPS and GS. The frequency of seizures was not high, on average twice a year, whereby one seizure was recorded in 5 children, less than three seizures were observed in 10 children. 18 of 20 children had in the EEG when awake CT spikes, 6 children bilateral spikes. In 15 children in the EEG during sleep or the EEG after sleep deprivation the frequency of discharges increased, contralateral discharges were recorded (4 times) or generalized ones (5 times). 18 children were treated by antiepileptic drugs, most frequently carbamazepine and sulthiam. The diagnosis of BECT in typical cases: SPS during sleep, EEG finding of CT spikes and their activation by sleep is not difficult. In case of sporadic GS during sleep an EEG during sleep must be made. It is important to take this form of epilepsy into account and to diagnose it to prevent unnecessary examinations and frequently also treatment. The diagnosis of BECT makes it possible to assess a favourable prognosis of the disease.