Clinical Usefulness of Simultaneous Electroencephalography and Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Children With Focal Epilepsy

Background@#and Purpose The current study analyzed the interictal epileptiform discharge (IED)-related hemodynamic response and aimed to determine the clinical usefulness of simultaneous electroencephalography and functional magnetic resonance imaging (EEG-fMRI) in defining the epileptogenic zone (EZ) in children with focal epilepsy. @*Methods@#Patients with focal epilepsy showing IEDs on conventional EEG were evaluated using EEG-fMRI. Statistical analyses were performed using the times of spike as events modeled with multiple hemodynamic response functions. The area showing the most significant t-value for blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) changes was compared with the presumed EZ. Moreover, BOLD responses between -9 and +9 s around the spike times were analyzed to track the hemodynamic response patterns over time. @*Results@#Half (n=13) of 26 EEG-fMRI investigations of 19 patients were successful. Two patients showed 2 different types of spikes, resulting in 15 analyses. The maximum BOLD response was concordant with the EZ in 11 (73.3%) of the 15 analyses. In 10 (66.7%) analyses, the BOLD response localized the EZs more specifically. Focal BOLD responses in the EZs occurred before IEDs in 11 analyses and were often widespread after IEDs. Hemodynamic response patterns were consistent in the same epilepsy syndrome or when repeating the investigation in the same patients. @*Conclusions@#EEG-fMRI can provide additional information for localizing the EZ in children with focal epilepsy, and also reveal the pathogenesis of pediatric epilepsy by evaluating the patterns in the hemodynamic response across time windows of IEDs.

Clinical Spectrum of Neonatal Strokes

PURPOSE: Neonatal strokes are common and may be associated with various complications. However, few studies have been conducted on the clinical spectrum in Korea. This study aimed at investigating the clinical presentation and neurological outcome of neonatal strokes. METHODS: Twenty-seven neonates with neonatal stroke were enrolled in the neonatal intensive care unit at Kyungpook National University Hospital from January 2000 to December 2009. Their medical records and neuroradiological findings were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: The mean age of the subjects was 4+/-5.6 days. Sixteen patients were full term, nine were prematurite and six had low birth weights. The onset of symptoms was mostly within first week (85.2%) of life, especially in the first day of life (51.9%). The most common symptom was seizure (40.7%), which were focal clonic (38.5%) or multifocal clonic (38.5%). Nine patients showed abnormal EEG findings. Thirteen patients had subdural hemorrhage, seven showed intraventricular hemorrhage, and three revealed cerebral infarction. Among 12 patients who followed-up for one year, four had mild neurologic dysfunction and two had severe impairment. CONCLUSION: We found that the onset of symptom in neonatal strokes was mostly within the first day of life, and the most common symptom was focal seizure. We, therefore recommend that neuroimaging be done when newborns have seizures within their first week of life. However, further studies are needed to elucidate this further.

Diagnostic effectiveness of fine needle aspiration cytology on pediatric cervical lymphadenopathy / 소아과

PURPOSE: There are few reports in Korean literature on the diagnostic efficacy of fine needle aspiration cytology(FNAC) for pediatric cervical lymphadenopathy. This study examined the diagnostic value of FNAC on cervical lymphadenopathy in children. METHODS: Data from 57 pediatric patients(aged 0.3 to 14 years) who underwent FNAC due to cervical lymphadenopathy between January 2001 and March 2005 was reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Reactive cervical lymphadenitis was the most common result of the FNAC(52.5 percent). Malignant disease were revealed in 14 percent of all cases. The sensitivity, specificity was 86 percent and 96 percent, respectively. The positive and negative predictive values for malignant disease was 75 percent and 98 percent, respectively. There were two false-positive cases on FNAC; one case of Langerhans cell histiocytosis, and another with infectious mononucleosis. A false-negative case on FNAC was found to be acute lymphocytic leukemia. In seven cases(12 percent), the final diagnosis was confirmed by an open biopsy after the FNAC. There were four FNAC cases where the specimen was not satisfactory for making a diagnosis(7 percent). There were no serious complications of the FNAC procedure. CONCLUSION: FNAC had a high diagnostic efficacy for evaluating children with cervical lymphadenopathy.

Dumping Syndrome in a Child with Gastrojejunal Tube Feeding / 대한소아소화기영양학회지

Dumping syndrome is a known complication of gastric surgery in adults, but a very rare disease in the pediatric population. We report on a case of dumping syndrome in a 19-month-old child, who underwent gastrojejunal feeding tube insertion for the treatment and prevention of gastroesophageal reflux and frequent aspiration pneumonia. At 17 months of age, 2 months after the beginning of gastrojejunal tube feeding, postprandial diaphoresis, palpitation, lethargy, bloating, and diarrhea occurred, and a single episode of convulsion with hypoglycemia were noted. Early and late dumping syndrome was confirmed by an abnormal oral glucose tolerance test with early onset hyperglycemia followed by delayed onset hypoglycemia. Diet therapy including uncooked corn starch then improved the postprandial diaphoresis, abnormal glucose levels, and her nutritional status. We conclude that dumping syndrome may be considered as a complication of gastrojejunal tube feeding in a child.

A Case of Neonatal Cholestasis Associated with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia / 대한소아소화기영양학회지

It has been suggested that cortisol deficiency may be responsible for the cholestasis. Although congenital hypopituitarism was reported as a possible cause of neonatal cholestasis, congenital adrenal hyperplasia with neonatal cholestasis is a very rare report in the literature. We experienced a case presenting with neonatal cholestasis associated with congenital adrenal hyperplasia. This case provides a clinical evidence supporting the notion that cortisol has an important physiological role in bile acid synthesis and transport.

A Case of Weaver Syndrome / 소아과

Weaver syndrome is a very rare overgrowth syndrome with accelerated skeletal maturation, unusual facies and clinodactyly. We experienced an extremely rare case of Weaver syndrome in Korea. The clinical manifestations were macrocephaly, unusal facies, simian crease, clinodactyly, decreased muscle tone, accelerated bone age and congenital heart diseases. We report this with a brief review of related literature.