FOCAL EPILEPSY

Patients with focal epilepsy have focal seizure types, and may have typical interictal and/or ictal EEG findings that accompany focal seizure types (such as focal sharp waves or focal interictal slowing). Imaging showing a focal structural brain abnormality may be supportive, although patients with genetic etiologies and normal imaging can also have focal epilepsy. Focal epilepsies may be unifocal, multifocal or hemispheric.

Self-limited focal epilepsy of childhood (SeLFE)

This term applies to a group of focal epilepsy syndromes seen in childhood, previously referred to as 'idiopathic' in nature. The SelFE's of childhood compose: self-limited epilepsy with autonomic seizures, self-limited epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes, childhood occipital visual epilepsy and photosensitive occipital lobe epilepsy. The SeLFE's account for up to 25% of all childhood onset epilepsy. They share the following features:

Age-dependent occurrence of focal seizures

Normal brain imaging (no structural cause)

Cognition and neurological exam are typically normal

Remission occurs by puberty

If treated, seizures respond to treatment

Characteristic seizure and EEG features (syndrome-specific)