Hypothalamic hamartoma with gelastic seizures: a case report

ABSTRACT

Hypothalamic Hamartoma (HH) may have diverse clinical manifestations. Its hallmark association is with gelastic seizures. Gelastic epilepsy is characterized by episodes of loud, hollow, mirthless, stereo-typed, forced laughter. The patient may stare and giggle briefly without any other motor manifestations. Hypothalamic hamartoma is most often the cause of gelastic seizures. Here, authors report a case of gelastic seizure with hypothalamic hamartoma in a 14-month-old boy with an associated tonic clonic seizure.' This case highlights the possibility of underdiagnosed hypothalamic hamartoma in younger age groups among pediatric population.