Epilepsy in pediatric patients with PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome: First step in recommendations for clinical management.
AI interpretation is pending for this paper.
Open original publication →What the AI sees
Not AI summarized yet.
Research significance
Pending deeper interpretation.
Source abstract
BACKGROUND: PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome (PHTS) is an autosomal dominant syndrome caused by a mutation in the PTEN gene. Previous studies have suggested an association between PHTS and epilepsy, but the clinical characteristics of epilepsy in PHTS remain unknown. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to expand knowledge of epilepsy in PHTS and provide insights into its clinical features. METHODS: A retrospective observational study was conducted at the Radboud University Medical Center, including 149 patients with clinically or genetically confirmed PHTS. Electronic patient records were reviewed for baseline characteristics, epileptic features, therapeutic interventions, and neuroimaging results. A cumulative risk analysis for developing epilepsy was performed. RESULTS: The prevalence of epilepsy among PHTS patients in this cohort was found to be 6%, with an estimated PHTS prevalence of 1:20 000 in the Netherlands. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) was significantly associated with an increased risk of developing epilepsy (p = 0.002). A range of seizure semiologies was observed, with focal epilepsy being the most common, presenting as focal seizures with impaired awareness. EEG results predominantly showed (multi)focal discharges with variable localization. MRI abnormalities did not correlate with epileptic foci on EEG. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the clinical characteristics of epilepsy in pediatric patients with PHTS. Follow-up should include monitoring for characteristics of focal epilepsy, with EEG utilized selectively when such episodes are observed, rather than as a routine screening measure. Treatment strategies should be individualized based on the patient's characteristics. In cases of epilepsy, MRI is recommended to identify potential structural malformations amenable to surgical intervention.