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Open resection of hypothalamic hamartomas for intractable epilepsy revisited, using intraoperative MRI

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A Correction to this article was published on 19 July 2018

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Abstract

Introduction

Hypothalamic hamartomas (HHs) are rare non-neoplastic lesions which cause drug-resistant epilepsy with associated behavioural, psychiatric and endocrine issues. With the development of new minimally invasive techniques for the treatment of HH, there is a need to reappraise the effectiveness and safety of each approach. We review the outcomes of HH patients treated surgically, utilizing intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (IOMRI), by a team of Alder Hey NHS Foundation Trust tumour and epilepsy neurosurgeons since 2011.

Methods

Patient records of all HH cases operated on since 2011 were reviewed to confirm history of presentation and clinical outcomes.

Results

Ten patients have undergone surgery for HH under the dual care of Alder Hey tumour and epilepsy neurosurgeons during this period. Eight cases had a midline transcallosal, interforniceal approach with the remaining 2 having a transcallosal, transforaminal approach. All patients had an IOMRI scan, with 40% needing further tumour resection post-IOMRI. Forty percent had a total resection, 3 patients had near-total resection and 3 patients had subtotal resection (~ 30% tumour residual on post-operative MRI). No new neurological complications developed post-operatively. Hypothalamic axis derangements were seen in 3 cases, including 1 diabetes insipidus with hypocortisolaemia, 1 hypodipsia and 1 transient hyperphagia. Eighty percent are seizure free; the remaining two patients have had significant improvements in seizure frequency.

Conclusions

IOMR was used to tailor the ideal tumour resection volume safely based on anatomy of the lesion, which combined with the open transcallosal, interforniceal route performed by surgeons experienced in the approach resulted in excellent, safe and effective seizure control.

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Change history

  • 19 July 2018

    The authors apologize to have sent a final manuscript draft omitting “Athanasius Chawira” from the list of authors. The correct list of authors is given in this article.

    The original article has been corrected.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, L12 2AP, UK

    Libby van Tonder, Sasha Burn, Conor Mallucci & Athanasius Chawira

  2. Department of Paediatric Neurology, Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, L12 2AP, UK

    Anand Iyer

  3. Department of Endocrinology, Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, L12 2AP, UK

    Jo Blair & Mohammed Didi

  4. Department of Neurosurgery, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, Bristol, BS2 8BJ, UK

    Michael Carter

  5. Department of Paediatric Neurology, Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital (RMCH), Manchester, M13 9WL, UK

    Timothy Martland

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  1. Libby van Tonder
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  2. Sasha Burn
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  4. Jo Blair
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Correspondence to Libby van Tonder.

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The authors ceftify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entitiy with any financial interest (such as honoria;educational grants;participation in speakers' bureaus;membership, employment, consultancies, stock ownership, or other equity interest; and expert testimony or patientlicensing arrangments), or non financial interest (such as personal or professional relationships, affiliations, knowledge or beliefs) in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.

Additional information

The original version of this article was revised: the original version of this article unfortunately contained an error. The authors apologize to have sent a final manuscript draft omitting “Athanasius Chawira” from the list of authors. The correct list of authors is given in this article.

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van Tonder, L., Burn, S., Iyer, A. et al. Open resection of hypothalamic hamartomas for intractable epilepsy revisited, using intraoperative MRI. Childs Nerv Syst 34, 1663–1673 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-018-3786-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-018-3786-x

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