Temporal lobe epilepsy resulting from ganglioglioma

Abstract

A case is reported of a 17-year-old boy with convulsive seizures of 4 years'' duration. The seizures were characterized by peculiar psychic and dream-like experiences accompanied by automatisms and amnesia. Visual and auditory hallucinations and illusions initiated the seizures, but there were never any grand mal convulsions. Death occurred accidentally by drowning. At autopsy, a small tumor, classified as ganglioglioma, was found in the left third temporal convolution. The pathology and classification of the tumor are discussed. Correlation of the site of the tumor with the clinical symptomatology is presented.