Unilateral Basal Ganglia Hypoplasia in a Patient with Epilepsy – a Case Report

Czech version

Authors: M. Kaiserová ¹; E. Čecháková ²; R. Mařák ³; M. Šmídová ⁴; K. Farníková ¹; P. Kaňovský ¹
Authors‘ workplace: FN Olomouc Centrum pro diagnostiku a léčbu neurodegenerativních onemocnění, Neurologická klinika LF UP v Olomouci ¹; FN Olomouc Radiologická klinika LF UP v Olomouci ²; FN Olomouc Centrum pro epilepsie, Neurologická klinika LF UP v Olomouci ³; FN Olomouc Oddělení klinické psychologie ⁴
Published in: Cesk Slov Neurol N 2010; 73/106(4): 430-433
Category: Case Report

Overview

The occurrence of a larger basal ganglia lesion without motor disorder, behavioural abnormality or disturbance of speech is exceedingly rare; only one case appears in the relevant literature. We report a second case of a patient with unilateral hypoplasia of the basal ganglia without motor impairment, who suffered from temporal lobe epilepsy. We hypothesize damage to the right basal nuclei at an early stage in the development of the brain. Neuronal plasticity at this stage of development might have been responsible for the normal motor function acquired. We also hypothesize that the basal ganglia have a weak inhibitory effect on the further spread of epileptic activity, which might have helped facilitate the development of temporal lobe epilepsy.

Key words:
basal ganglia – motor function – temporal lobe epilepsy

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