Journal of Clinical Neurology  2008;4(3):134-137

doi:10.3988/jcn.2008.4.3.134

Neurocutaneous Melanosis Presenting as Chronic Partial Epilepsy.

Byoung Seok YE 1 ; Yang Je CHO ; Sang Hyun JANG ; Byung In LEE ; Kyoung HEO ; Hyun Ho JUNG ; Jin Woo CHANG ; Se Hoon KIM

Affiliations

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Keywords

Neurocutaneous melanosis; Partial epilepsy; Epilepsy surgery

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

English

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Neurocutaneous melanosis (NCM) is a rare neurocutaneous syndrome characterized by the presence of multiple congenital melanocytic nevi (CMN) and the proliferation of melanocytes in the central nervous system, usually involving the leptomeninges. Chronic partial epilepsy as a sole manifestation is rare in NCM. CASE REPORT: A 32-year-old man suffering from chronic partial epilepsy presented with multiple CMN on his trunk and scalp. Brain MRI demonstrated a focal lesion in the right amygdala that was consistent with interictal epileptiform discharges in the right temporal region on electroencephalography (EEG). An anterior temporal lobectomy was performed, and the pathology investigation revealed numerous melanophages in the amygdala. The patient was seizure-free after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: We report a patient with NCM presenting as chronic partial epilepsy who was successfully treated by anterior temporal lobectomy.