Skip to main content
Log in

Grey matter heterotopia: An unusual association of intractable epilepsy

  • Published:
Irish Journal of Medical Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Heterotopic grey matter is an abnormality of neuronal migration that has been reported in association with refractory epilepsy. In this study we reviewed the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging records of all patients undergoing MR scanning for evaluation of intractable epilepsy and identified sixteen patients who had grey matter heterotopia. The distribution of the grey matter heterotopia was periventricular in 9 patients, laminar in 3 and was in a “band” form in 4 patients. Congenital anomalies associated with grey matter heterotopia in this study included polymicrogyria in one patient and absence of the corpus callosum in 2 patients. Grey matter heterotopia is an important MR finding in patients with intractable epilepsy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Bronen, R. Epilepsy: the role of MR imaging. AJR 1992; 159: 1165–74.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Bergeron, R. T. Radiographic demonstration of cortical heterotopia. Acta Radiologica. 1969; 9: 135–39.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Mikhael, M. A., Mattar, A. G. Malformation of the cerebral cortex with heterotopia of the grey matter. J. Comput. Assist. Tomogr. 1978; 2: 291–96.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Bairaman, B., Di Chiro, G., Theodore, W. H., Holmes, M. D., Bouvart, R. H., Larsen, S. M. MR imaging and positron emission tomography of cortical heterotopias. J. Comput. Assist. Tomogr. 1985; 9(6): 1137–39.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Barkovich, A., Chuang, S., Norman, D. MR of neuronal migrational anomalies. AJNR 1987; 8: 1009–17.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Raymond, A., Fish, D. R., Stevens, J. M., Sisodiya, S. M., Alsanjari, N., Shorvon, S. D. Subependymal heterotopia: a distinct neuronal migration disorder associated with epilepsy. J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry 1994; 57: 1195–1202.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Barkovitch, J., Jackson, D., Boyer, R. Band heterotopias: a newly recognized neuronal migration anomaly. Radiology 1989; 171: 455–458.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Kunziecky, R. I. Magnetic resonance imaging in developmental disorders of the cerebral cortex. Epilepsia 1994; 35.(S)6: S44–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Kamuro, K., Tenokuchi, Y. Familial periventricular nodular heterotopia. Brain and Development 1993; 15(3): 237–41.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Oda, T., Nagai, Y., Fujimoto, S., Sobajima, H., Kobayashai, M., Togari, H., Wada, Y. Hereditary nodular heterotopia accompanied by mega cisterna. American Journal of Genetics 1993; 47(2): 268–71.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Huttenlocher, P. R., Taravath, S., Mojtahedi, S. Periventricular heterotopia and epilepsy. Neurology 1994; 44(1): 51–55.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Smith, S., Weinstein, M., Quencer, R., Muroff, L., Stonesifer, K., Chaney, F. et al. Association of heterotopic grey matter with seizures: MR imaging. Radiology 1988; 168: 195–98.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Palmini, A., Gambardella, A., Andermann, F., Dubeau, F., DaCosta, J. C., Olivier, A. et al. Operative strategies for patients with cortical dysplastic lesions and intractable epilepsy. Epilepsia 1994; 35 (Suppl 6): S57–71.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Johnson, D.B.S., Brennan, P., Dwyer, A.J.O. et al. Grey matter heterotopia: An unusual association of intractable epilepsy. I.J.M.S. 166, 135–138 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02943590

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02943590

Keywords

Navigation