Hypothalamic hamartoma with gelastic seizures: a case report

Authors

  • Zosangliani . Department of Pediatrics, RIMS, Imphal, Manipur, India
  • Avishek Datta Department of Pediatrics, RIMS, Imphal, Manipur, India
  • Rukuwe Thele Department of Pediatrics, RIMS, Imphal, Manipur, India
  • Bishal Gurung Department of Pediatrics, RIMS, Imphal, Manipur, India
  • T. Kambiakdik Department of Pediatrics, RIMS, Imphal, Manipur, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2349-3291.ijcp20201160

Keywords:

Forced laughter, GABAergic, Gelastic seizures, Pituitary hamartoma, Precocious puberty

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.

References

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Syamlal S, Kunju M. Gelastic epilepsy and hypothalamic hamartoma. Ind Pediatr. 2006 May 1;43(5):454.

Striano S, Santulli L, Ianniciello M, Ferretti M, Romanelli P, Striano P. The gelastic seizures-hypothalamic hamartoma syndrome: facts, hypotheses, and perspectives. Epilep Behav. 2012 May 1;24(1):7-13.

Téllez-Zenteno JF, Serrano-Almeida C, Moien-Afshari F. Gelastic seizures associated with hypothalamic hamartomas. An update in the clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment. Neuropsychiatric Dis Treat. 2008 Dec;4(6):1021.

Mishra D, Juneja M, Chutani T, Chowdhury D. Cryptogenic Gelastic Epilepsy: A Pediatric Case Vignette. J Clin Diag Res: JCDR. 2014 Mar;8(3):158.

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Published

2020-03-21

Issue

Section

Case Reports