Evidence for Functional Impairment but Not Structural Disease in Benign Rolandic Epilepsy
Authors: Fountain Nathan B. 
Published: September 2010

Is Rolandic Epilepsy Associated with Abnormal Findings on Cranial MRI? Boxerman JL, Hawash K, Bali B, Clarke T, Rogg J, Pal DK. Epilepsy Res. 2007;75( 2 – 3 ):180–185. Rolandic epilepsy (RE) is designated an idiopathic epilepsy syndrome, and hence no lesional abnormalities are expected on MRI exam. Recent reports suggest that MRI abnormalities are not only common, but may be specific for temporal lobe epilepsy, and lateralized to the side of EEG discharges. However, no controlled study has been performed to test the hypothesis of association between MRI abnormalities and Rolandic epilepsy. We performed an unmatched case-control study to test the hypothesis of association between MRI abnormalities and Rolandic epilepsy, using 25 typical RE cases and 25 children with migraine. Two independent examiners rated the MRIs for abnormalities. Examiners were blinded to the study hypothesis and identity of case and control exams. Fifty-two percent of RE exams contained at least one abnormality: peri/hippocampal abnormality (one case), non-localized congenital malformation (seven cases), subcortical parenchymal hyperintensities (two cases), periventricular parenchymal hyperintensities (one case), dilated perivascular spaces (six cases). There was no difference between the number or type of abnormalities in cases and controls. No type of abnormality lateralized to the hemisphere from which the EEG spikes emanated. The odds ratio of association between MRI abnormalities and RE was 0.87, 95% CI: 0.18–4.33 after adjusting for potential demographic and technical factors. We conclude that routine cranial MRI abnormalities are common in RE, but no more common than in controls, and not specific for RE.

Memory and Phonological Awareness in Children with Benign Rolandic Epilepsy Compared to a Matched Control Group. Northcott E, Connolly AM, Berroya A, McIntyre J, Christie J, Taylor A, Bleasel AF, Lawson JA, Bye AM. Epilepsy Res. 2007;75(1):57–62.

Purpose

In a previous study we demonstrated children with Benign Rolandic Epilepsy have normal intelligence and language ability. However, difficulties in verbal and visual memory and aspects of phonological awareness were found compared to normative data. To address the methodological limitations related to the use of normative data, we compared the same cohort of children with Benign Rolandic Epilepsy to a matched control group.

Method

Controls ( n = 40) matched on age and gender to the Benign Rolandic Epilepsy cohort underwent neuropsychological assessment. The life functioning of the control group was assessed using a modified version of the Quality of Life in Childhood Epilepsy Questionnaire (QOLCE).

Results

The study confirmed the previous findings of memory and phonological awareness difficulties. In addition, the children with Benign Rolandic Epilepsy had significantly lower IQ scores than the matched control group. Paired sample t-tests showed that on 8 of 11 QOLCE scales, children with Benign Rolandic Epilepsy were rated by parents as having poorer life functioning compared to matched controls, including lower parental ratings on the subscales of memory and language.

Discussion

Benign Rolandic Epilepsy has an excellent seizure prognosis, but this study further emphasizes potential cognitive difficulties. Using an age and gender matched control group, the previous findings of memory and phonological awareness difficulties were validated. These problems in cognition were also identified by parents of children with Benign Rolandic Epilepsy as problematic and impacting upon the child's quality of life.