Subcortical Band Heterotopia Presented With Refractory Epilepsy and Reversible Aphasia

Subcortical band heterotopia (SBH) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder due to mutation in the DCX or LIS1 gene. It is predominantly a disease of females. Its presentation varied widely, ranging from mild epilepsy and mental retardation to refractory epilepsy and severe mental retardation. Here, a case of a 22-year-old lady with refractory seizure is reported. She also had expressive aphasia which had reversed after adjustment of the anti-epileptic drugs and control of the seizure. Her MRI of the brain revealed a band of complete gray matter deep to the pachygyric cortex and an electroencephalogram (EEG) revealed bi-frontal slow waves.