Giant subcortical heterotopia involving the temporo-parieto-occipital region: a challenging cause of drug-resistant epilepsy

Abstract

The clinical, radiological, neurophysiological and neuropsychological findings of three patients with giant subcortical heterotopia are reported. All patients experienced psychomotor and behaviour improvement after surgery. Two subjects are seizure-free after complete excision of the heterotopia; the third patient significantly improved following subtotal removal (Engel's class II). Patients affected by giant subcortical heterotopias can have a favourable prognosis after the surgical removal of the malformation, even following long-lasting epilepsy.