Background/introduction The minimally invasive nature of FUS makes it an excellent candidate technology for epilepsy surgery. The limitation of currently available FUS systems is that the lesion must be deep in the brain to avoid bone heating. Thus, it is best suited for “subcortical” epilepsies, i.e. epilepsy resulting from lesions below the cortex. It is also desirable that the lesion be rela...

Gelastic (laughing) seizures are an uncommon seizure type which in most cases has an organic cerebral pathology and specifically a hypothalamic hamartoma. The interictal EEG frequently shows focal activity. This report describes a 3 1/2-year-old boy who presented with episodes of unmotivated laughter associated with other epileptic symptomatology before the age of 3 years. Prolonged ambulatory ...

Simultaneous electroencephalogram (EEG)-functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) recordings have seen growing application in the evaluation of epilepsy, namely in the characterization of brain networks related to epileptic activity. In EEG-correlated fMRI studies, epileptic events are usually described as boxcar signals based on the timing information retrieved from the EEG, and subsequentl...

Facial-Digital Syndrome Type VI Oral-facial-digital syndrome type VI (OFDS VI) or Váradi-Papp syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disorder, distinguished from other type of OFDS by metacarpal abnormalities with central polydactyly; cerebellar abnormalities; and, sometimes, hypothalamic hamartomas. Affected patients present with hypotonia, cognitive impairment, irregular breathing, and oculom...

Neuroendoscopic surgery is performed because it causes minimal damage to normal structures, carries a lower rate of complications, and achieves excellent outcomes. Surgeons using an endoscope and related instruments can perform complex operations through very small incisions, which is especially useful for minimally invasive procedures for the brain and spine. Neuroendoscopic surgery is now per...

OBJECTIVE To describe the epidemiological and clinical-electroencephalographic characteristics, and associated morbidity of patients with hypothalamic hamartoma, as well as the treatment followed and outcomes PATIENTS AND METHODS We have retrospectively reviewed the medical histories of 10 patients diagnosed with hypothalamic hamartoma by magnetic resonance imaging over the last 20 years. R...

Torsional nystagmus was noted in a patient with hypothalamic hamartoma. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an exophytic hypothalamic mass extending into the pre-pontine cistern and abutting ventral mesencephalon. The quickphase of the torsional nystagmus was directed towards the left side, ipsilateral to the side of compression by the hamartoma. Ipsi-lesionally directed pure torsional nystagmu...

L aughter actually has positive emotional effect. However, it could be pathologic when laughter is not related to emotion and occurs independent of a stimulus in the environment. We reported a 7-year-6-month old Thai boy who presented with ‘early giggles’ since the age of 2 months. Despite parental concerns, the symptoms were overlooked until seven years of age, when he developed complex partia...

BACKGROUND In October 2006, federal funding was announced for the development of a national strategy to fight cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Canada. The comprehensive, independent, stakeholder-driven Canadian Heart Health Strategy and Action Plan (CHHS-AP) was delivered to the Minister of Health on February 24, 2009. OBJECTIVES The mandate of CHHS-AP Theme Working Group (TWG) 6 was to identi...