Tooth-brushing epilepsy: a report of a case with structural and functional imaging and electrophysiology demonstrating a right frontal focus

Epilepsia. 1996 Jul;37(7):694-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1528-1157.1996.tb00636.x.

Abstract

Patients with reflex epilepsies may provide insights into cerebral pathophysiology. We report a patient with an unusual form of reflex epilepsy in whom seizures are induced by tooth brushing. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated a right posterior frontal low-grade tumor predominantly involving the precentral gyrus. Video-telemetry demonstrated right-sided epileptiform activity during a typical induced complex partial seizure. An ictal single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scan showed an area of hyperfusion that corresponded to the MRI lesion on coregistration with a surface-matching technique. A subsequent coregistered interictal SPECT scan demonstrated hypoperfusion in the same region. Ours is the first report to demonstrate a structural focus in this unusual form of reflex epilepsy. Possible mechanisms to explain the induction of the seizures are discussed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brain Neoplasms / complications
  • Brain Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Brain Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Electroencephalography
  • Epilepsy / diagnosis
  • Epilepsy / etiology*
  • Epilepsy / physiopathology
  • Epilepsy, Complex Partial / diagnostic imaging
  • Epilepsy, Complex Partial / etiology
  • Epilepsy, Complex Partial / physiopathology
  • Female
  • Frontal Lobe / diagnostic imaging
  • Frontal Lobe / physiopathology*
  • Humans
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Toothbrushing / adverse effects*