• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.10
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• pp.1085-1089
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• 2008

Purpose : This study aims to examine and compare the features of rolandic epilepsy. Methods : Of 158 patients selected retrospectively, 116 had typical (group A) and 42 had atypical (group B) rolandic epilepsy, as defined by Worrall's criteria. Results : The age at onset of the seizures in group A was $8.6{\pm}2.0y$ and $6.2{\pm}1.7y$ in group B (P>0.05). Among the 40 patients who underwent neuroimaging studies (25 patients in group A and 15 patients in group B), abnormal findings in group B included ventricular dilatation, mild cortical atrophy, and partial agenesis of corpus callosum. group A had no abnormal findings. The frequency of seizures was $2.0{\pm}1.0$ and $2.3{\pm}1.2$ per month in groups A and B respectively. Seizure control from the initial anticonvulsant treatment was achieved within 3 months in group A, and 3 to 12 months in group B. A 2-year remission rate was noted in 105 patients in group A and in 38 patients in group B. Of these, the recurrence rate after 2 y was 13 in group A and 12 in group B. Conclusion : Age of onset of seizures, gender, frequency of seizures before therapy, and 2-y remission rate were not significantly different in the 2 groups. However, neuroimaging abnormalities, the time to achieving seizure control from the initial anticonvulsant treatment, and the recurrence rate after being seizure-free for 2 y were significantly different in the 2 groups.