Piloerection as the sole symptom of epilepsy: A case report and review of literature
- Author:
Ji-Qing QIU
1
;
Yu CUI
;
Li-Chao SUN
;
Bin QI
;
Xiao-Bo ZHU
;
Zhan-Peng ZHU
Author Information
1. Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, 71 Xinmin Street, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China
- Publication Type:Case report
- Keywords:
Piloerection;
seizure;
EEG
- From:Neurology Asia
2018;23(2):163-175
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Piloerection is an involuntary erection of body hairs that usually has physiological correlates such as cold or a strong emotional experience. Piloerection may also be a rare manifestation of seizure.Here, we report a case of 54-year-old man who experienced pilomotor seizures from temporal lobe epilepsy. The patient presented with sudden piloerection and no loss of consciousness many times a day. Magnetic resonance imagingof the brain showed threelesions in the right hemisphere, with the largest lesion in the right temporal lobe. A video-EEG showed an ictal discharge in the delta range with right temporal onset. Digital subtraction angiography excluded arteriovenous malformation. The lesion in the right temporal lobe was resected. Immunohistochemistry confirmed a cerebral cavernous malformation. There was no further seizure. A review of the published literature revealed that ictal piloerection as a lone manifestation is rare. Most cases of pilomotor seizure originate in the temporal lobe. Close to four fifth of the cases has a structural lesion. EEG was able to confirm the diagnosis of ictal piloerection in the majority of cases.
