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Posterior Fossa Malformations and Epilepsy

Department of Child Neurology and Psychiatry, Neurological Institute, University of Bologna, Italy

Annio Posar, MD

Department of Child Neurology and Psychiatry, Neurological Institute, University of Bologna, Italy

Maria Cristina Scaduto, MD

Department of Child Neurology and Psychiatry, Neurological Institute, University of Bologna, Italy

Simona Chiodo, MD

Department of Child Neurology and Psychiatry, Neurological Institute, University of Bologna, Italy

Margherita Santucci, MD

Department of Child Neurology and Psychiatry, Neurological Institute, University of Bologna, Italy

Paola Giovanardi Rossi, MD

Department of Child Neurology and Psychiatry, Neurological Institute, University of Bologna, Italy

The association between posterior fossa malformations and epilepsy is rarely reported in the literature. We describe 54 cases with posterior fossa malformations, according to embryogenesis classification, divided into two groups on the basis of presence or absence of epilepsy. Epilepsy occurred in 22 cases (40.7%) and was not related to the type of posterior fossa malformation or to supratentorial cerebral lesions associated with the malformation. Familial antecedents for epilepsy and/or febrile convulsions influenced the presence of epilepsy in patients with posterior fossa malformations (P < .01). Epilepsy was mainly partial (77.3%); benign partial/generalized epilepsies and febrile convulsions occurred in 27.3% of cases. Seizures disappeared for 2 or more years at the end of follow-up in 36.4% of patients. Good epilepsy prognosis was not related to the age at onset of seizures, familial antecedents for epilepsy and/or febrile convulsions, supratentorial associated lesions, or age of patients at the last observation. Profound mental retardation prevailed in patients with epilepsy (P <.01), as did pathologic electroencephalograms (EEG) (P <.0001), with paroxysmal abnormalities (P <.001) and asymmetry (P < .01). In our 54 cases of posterior fossa malformation, we identified two risk factors for epilepsy: familial antecedents for epilepsy and/or febrile convulsions and the involvement of the cerebellum in the malformation. (J Child Neurol 1999;14:113-117).

Journal of Child Neurology, Vol. 14, No. 2, 113-117 (1999)
DOI: 10.1177/088307389901400209


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