AS2-1 TREATMENT OF BENIGN INTRA-AXIAL BRAIN TUMORS IN CHILDREN ASSOCIATED WITH EPILEPSY

Low grade neuro-epithelial tumors presenting early-onset epilepsy as the major neurological symptom have recently been categorized as low-grade epilepsy-associated neuro-epithelial tumors, LEAT. Ganglioglioma and dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors consist up to 60% of LEAT. Common characteristics of LEAT being early onset seizure, younger than the age of 15, and temporal lobe localization, its criteria do not include histological or genetic features; LEAT is an independent classification, unrelated to WHO classification. Treatment for epilepsy associated with LEAT includes medication and surgery. As for drug therapy, most tumor-related seizures are controlled well with anti-epileptic drugs for focal epilepsy such as sodium channel blocker. On the other hand, those who are drug-resistant are candidates for surgical therapy. Because epileptogenic zone mostly exists not in tumor itself but in the marginal brain tissue, pure tumor resection without resection of peripheral epileptogenic zone sometimes fails to achieve satisfactory seizure outcome. Concept of epilepsy surgery is indispensable in pre-operative evaluation and in planning surgical strategy. Related association fibers in addition to five zones, epileptogenic zone, seizure onset zone, irritative zone, symptomatogenic zone and functional deficit zone should be taken into consideration. Long-term survival is expected in children who underwent total resection of benign tumors. Therefore, good seizure control is crucial in improving activities of daily lives.