Self-limited Epilepsy with Centrotemporal Spikes

Overview

  • This syndrome is now termed Self-Limited Epilepsy with Centrotemporal Spikes (formerly known as Benign Rolandic Epilepsy or Benign Childhood Epilepsy with Centrotemporal Spikes).
  • It is the commonest school-age epilepsy (~15-25% of epilepsy in this age group).
  • The seizures typically occur from sleep and are focal involving the face, mouth, and tongue. The person may not be able to speak. The seizure may evolve to a clonic seizure of the arm and sometimes become bilateral convulsive.
  • The child can typically tell you the history if the seizure remains focal.
  • The EEG has centro-temporal spikes with accentuation in sleep – therefore a sleep deprived or sleep EEG is important if the awake EEG is normal. Centro temporal spikes occur in up to 3% of children without epilepsy.
  • Treatment is not necessarily required.

According to the NICE Guideline: Epilepsies in children, young people and adults (April 2022):

  • The seizure type(s) and epilepsy syndrome, aetiology, and co-morbidity should be determined.
  • If there is diagnostic uncertainty, individuals should be referred to tertiary services soon (within 4 weeks) for further assessment. 
  • Chapter 6.4 here of the NICE guideline provides information on treating Self-limited epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes.

The current classification and description of SeLECTS can be found in the Position Statement by the ILAE Taskforce: Epilepsy syndromes with onset in childhood.

Demographics

Prevalence:

  • ~15% of children with seizures aged 1-15 years

Age at onset:

  • 3-14 years, peak at 8 to 9 years.

Signs | Symptoms

Seizure semiology

  • Infrequent focal seizures with unilateral facial sensory-motor signs and symptoms. Oro-pharyngolaryngeal manifestations are prominent. There is speech arrest and hypersalivation.
  • Oro-pharyngolaryngeal manifestations are unilateral numbness and dysaesthesia inside the mouth, cheek, teeth and tongue alone or usually with motor phenomena producing guttural sounds. This choking/gurgling noise often alerts the parent.
  • Consciousness is commonly retained.
  • Seizures may spread and have unilateral or bilateral convulsive features.
  • Duration is ~1 to 2 mins but lasts longer if seizures progress to convulsions (1/3).
  • A transient postictal deficit is common (e.g. crooked mouth).

Neurological and mental state

  • Normal

Timing

  • 75% in sleep

Learning

  • Memory difficulties and language problems are common.
  • The latter may be associated with reading and spelling difficulties, which may not be recognised.
  • Intervention helps.
  • These deficits often improve with time. 

Investigations

EEG

  • Normal background with centrotemporal spikes (CTS), which are abundant, usually in runs, may be unilateral or bilateral and are markedly accentuated during sleep. Rarely, CTS occur only during sleep.  CTS occur in 2% to 3% of normal school-age children. They are age-dependent and remit in the second decade of life.
  • Frequency, location, and persistence of CTS do not determine clinical manifestations, severity, and frequency of seizures or prognosis.
  • EEG changes can outlast the propensity for seizures.

Neuroimaging

  • Not usually required unless atypical clinical features and EEG.

Prognosis

  • Usually excellent.
  • If seizure free for 18 months-2 years, it is reasonable to attempt weaning of treatment.
  • Seizures almost universally remit <16 years of age, frequently by early adolescence.
  • Seizures are infrequent (10% to 20% singular).
  • 10% to 20% may have frequent seizures.
  • Rarely status may occur. 

Management

Management options

  • Continuous AED therapy may not be needed, but requires careful discussion. 
  • If seizures are problematic for the child and family, such as bilateral convulsive seizures, AED therapy should be considered carefully and discussed. There is data from 2019 (North American SUDEP registry) documenting SUDEP in this syndrome. 
  • A low evening dose of Carbamazepine can be considered for recurrent seizures, but there are no clinical trials on this approach. Other AEDs can be used.
  • It is important to carefully discuss safety and pros and cons of treatment based on seizure semiology, time of seizure and frequency. 

Discuss with family

  • Safety
  • SUDEP
  • Epilepsy Medical Record
  • Drug Handout
  • Potential of performing baseline educational assessment (through school counsellor)
  • Parents are often very frightened. It is important to reassure them of the excellent seizure prognosis and to recognise that medication may not be necessary.

Resources

 

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Information last updated: 7th December 2021.

 

References

  • Panayiotopoulos CP. The epilepsies: Seizures, syndromes and management: Based on the ILAE classifications and practice parameter guidelines. Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire: Bladen Medical Publishing; 2005. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20821848/ 
  • Roger J, Bureau M, Dravet C, Genton P, Tassinari CA, Wolf P, editors. Epileptic syndromes in infancy, childhood and adolescence (4th ed).  Montrouge, France: John Libbey Eurotext Ltd; 2005.