Cortical laminar necrosis related to prolonged focal status epilepticus

J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2006 Jan;77(1):104-6. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.2004.058701.

Abstract

Cortical laminar necrosis (CLN) is radiologically defined as high intensity cortical lesions on T1 weighted MRI images following a gyral distribution. Histopathologically, CLN is characterised by pannecrosis of the cortex involving neurones, glial cells, and blood vessels. It has been reported to be associated with hypoxia, metabolic disturbances, drugs, and infections. We present two patients who developed CLN and permanent neurological deficits after prolonged and repeated focal status epilepticus. The possible mechanisms leading to CLN in these patients are discussed, together with the implications of prompt and aggressive treatment in similar cases.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anticonvulsants / therapeutic use
  • Aphasia, Wernicke / diagnosis
  • Aphasia, Wernicke / etiology
  • Brain Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain Diseases / etiology
  • Brain Diseases / pathology
  • Cerebral Cortex / diagnostic imaging
  • Cerebral Cortex / pathology*
  • Functional Laterality
  • Hemianopsia / diagnosis
  • Hemianopsia / etiology
  • Humans
  • Levetiracetam
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Necrosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Necrosis / etiology*
  • Necrosis / pathology*
  • Paresis / diagnosis
  • Paresis / etiology
  • Phenytoin / therapeutic use
  • Piracetam / analogs & derivatives
  • Piracetam / therapeutic use
  • Status Epilepticus / complications*
  • Status Epilepticus / drug therapy
  • Status Epilepticus / physiopathology*
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

Substances

  • Anticonvulsants
  • Levetiracetam
  • Phenytoin
  • Piracetam