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Hemispherectomy for hemimegalencephaly in a 6.5-week-old infant with tuberous sclerosis complex

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Abstract

The aim of this report is to present a unique case of hemimegalencephaly and concomitant tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC1 mutation) with severe neonatal-onset epilepsy, which successfully underwent an anatomical hemispherectomy at 6.5 weeks of age for refractory seizures. Genetic testing confirmed a rare pathogenic, sporadic, heterozygous c.2041 + 1G > A gene mutation in intron 16 of the TSC1 gene, diagnostic for tuberous sclerosis. Post-operatively, the infant remained seizure free for at least 1 year. Following recurrence of her seizures, she has continued on multiple anti-seizure medications and everolimus therapy. We review the pathological and molecular features of this condition and highlight the ethics of intervention and steps taken toward safe neurosurgical intervention in this very young infant.

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Acknowledgements

We give special thanks to the patient’s family for granting permission to participate in this case report, which has been reviewed and approved by the University of Manitoba Health Research Ethics Board.

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Correspondence to Demitre Serletis.

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Serletis, D., MacDonald, C., Xu, Q. et al. Hemispherectomy for hemimegalencephaly in a 6.5-week-old infant with tuberous sclerosis complex. Childs Nerv Syst 38, 1415–1419 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-021-05431-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-021-05431-1

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