RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Focal Lesion in the Splenium of the Corpus Callosum in Epileptic Patients: Antiepileptic Drug Toxicity?
JF American Journal of Neuroradiology
JO Am. J. Neuroradiol.
FD American Society of Neuroradiology
SP 125
OP 129
VO 20
IS 1
A1 Sam Soo Kim
A1 Kee-Hyun Chang
A1 Sung Tae Kim
A1 Dae Chul Suh
A1 Jung-Eun Cheon
A1 Sang-Wuk Jeong
A1 Moon Hee Han
A1 Sang Kun Lee
YR 1999
UL http://www.ajnr.org/content/20/1/125.abstract
AB BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Discrete focal lesions in the splenium of the corpus callosum on MR images in epileptic patients have received little attention in the literature. Our purpose was to describe these lesions, which may be related to the toxicity of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), and to discuss the possible mechanisms of their development.METHODS: We examined six patients with epilepsy whose brain MR imaging findings showed a discrete focal nonhemorrhagic lesion in the splenium of the corpus callosum. The medical records and MR images were reviewed retrospectively with respect to the patients' clinical history, medication, and laboratory findings to determine the etiology of the lesion.RESULTS: In all six patients MR imaging showed a focal lesion in the splenium of the corpus callosum, which was ovoid in shape and 15 to 19 mm in size. In the three patients who received contrast material, there was no enhancement of the lesion. Four of six patients had a history of medication with dilantin, in two of whom the level of serum dilantin was found to be elevated (22.3 μg/mL and 70.4 μg/mL, respectively). Vigabatrin was administered in three patients, one of whom took dilantin together with vigabatrin. In two patients, the focal lesion in the corpus callosum disappeared on follow-up MR images after withdrawal of dilantin and/or vigabatrin.CONCLUSION: A discrete, focal, ovoid, nonhemorrhagic lesion in the splenium of the corpus callosum may be seen on brain MR images of patients with epilepsy. The lesion is considered to be reversible demyelination related to AEDs toxicity.