Heterotopia

Diagnosis:

Pathology is the gold standard, but MRI is an excellent test for diagnosis

Clinical features:

epilepsy

Findings on Investigations:

MRI:

  • Subepindymal, subcortical or band/diffuse
  • Subcortical band heterotopia

FDG-PET:

  • Intertictal: increase uptake in the subcortical band.

EEG: interictal & ictal abnormalities

Genetic forms:

doublecortin (DCX) gene, X-linked. Blood testing available. MRI in affected men: lissencephaly, MRI in affected women: double cortex band heterotopia, subcortical laminar heterotopia, lissencephaly
Human Filamin A gene FLNA mutations, filamin, X-linked. MRI: bilateral perventricular heterotopia
Laminin genes, MRI: Perventricular heterotopia

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