Benign Focal Epilepsy of Childhood: Individual and Intrafamilial Multifocality of Spikes

Abstract

Benign focal epilepsy of childhood (BFEC) is a familial, age specific, primary seizure disorder with both clinical and electroencephalographic focal characteristic features. The mental capacity remains intact, and no related neurological deficit is known. The seizures are easily amenable to treatment. BFEC is most commonly associated with central-midtemporal spikes. In some patients occipital spikes may be found. We report three patients with BFEC and present their corresponding EEG recordings. The first, a female age 10, had a history of a single grand mal seizure. Her EEG showed simultaneous firing of two independent foci, occipital and central-midtemporal. The second, a 10-year-old boy who was evaluated for headache, had typical central-midtemporal spikes. His 8-year-old asymptomatic sister's EEG showed benign occipital-temporal spikes.