Two cases of hypothalamic hamartomas causing gelastic epilepsy are described. The clinical presentations and the radiological features are presented, and the mechanisms involved in laughing attacks are discussed. The literature is reviewed and it is suggested the complete extirpation of the hamartomas is the treatment of choice in gelastic epilepsy.

Impairments most commonly were noted in the intellectual, verbal and nonverbal memory and working memory domains, while visuospatial rotation skills were found to be the most robust. Results from Prigatano et al.’s (2004) study evaluating six children with hypothalamic hamartomas indicated significant difficulties with speech and language tasks. Deficits also were noted with learning and memory...

Gelastic seizures, characterized by epileptic laughter, are rare and the majority is associated with hypothalamic hamartomas. We report a case with cryptogenic Gelastic seizure (without hypothalamic hamartoma), as the MRI was normal and, EEG and clinical data suggested a focal origin of the seizures.

Hypothalamic hamartoma is a developmental malformation in the region of tuber cinereum and mamillary bodies. It presents the most commonly detectable lesion in patients with precocious puberty and is associated with gelastic seizures. As well as, it can be completely silent to be found only incidentally. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic rezonans (MR) imaging are preferred imaging modalitie...

Hypothalamic hamartoma is a rare congenital lesion. We present the case of a 7-year-old girl who suffered from precocious puberty, the cause of which was diagnosed by using MR imaging and CT as pedunculated hypothalamic hamartoma associated with a large craniopharyngeal canal and sellar spine mimicking pituitary duplication.