Epilessia come sintomo di esordio e nel decorso della malattia in 143 pazienti affetti da neoplasia cerebrale emisferica

One hundred and forty-three patients affected by primary supratentorial brain tumours were studied in order to describe the incidence of epileptic seizures at presentation and in the course of the illness 45 patients affected by glioblastoma, 30 by anaplastic astrocytoma, 30 by astrocytoma low grade and 38 by meningioma were studied. Anticonvulsant efficacy and toxic side effects were evaluated in two groups of patients treated with Phenobarbital or Vigabatrin. Our study shows an inverse relationship between tumour grade and seizures frequency in glial tumours. The course of seizures subsequent to the diagnosis of the neoplasm was significantly related to the presence or absence of seizures at presentation. The use of prophylactic anticonvulsants in the treatment of these patients should be studied in more large series.