Book contents
- Understanding Epilepsy
- Understanding Epilepsy
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Contributors
- Preface
- Chapter 1 Pathophysiology of Epilepsy
- Chapter 2 Physiologic Basis of Epileptic EEG Patterns
- Chapter 3 Pathology of the Epilepsies
- Chapter 4 Classifications of Seizures and Epilepsies
- Chapter 5 Electro-clinical Syndromes and Epilepsies in the Neonatal Period, Infancy, and Childhood
- Chapter 6 Familial Electro-clinical Syndromes and Epilepsies in Adolescence to Adulthood
- Chapter 7 Distinctive Constellations and Other Epilepsies
- Chapter 8 Seizures Not Diagnosed as Epilepsy
- Chapter 9 Nonepileptic Spells
- Chapter 10 Status Epilepticus
- Chapter 11 EEG Instrumentation and Basics
- Chapter 12 Interpreting the Normal Electroencephalogram of an Adult
- Chapter 13 Ictal and Interictal Epileptiform Electroencephalogram Patterns
- Chapter 14 Neonatal and Pediatric Electroencephalogram
- Chapter 15 Scalp Video-EEG Monitoring
- Chapter 16 Intracranial EEG Monitoring
- Chapter 17 Neuroimaging in Epilepsy
- Chapter 18 The Role of Neuropsychology in Epilepsy Surgery
- Chapter 19 Principles of Antiseizure Drug Management
- Chapter 20 Gender Issues in Epilepsy
- Chapter 21 Antiseizure Drugs
- Chapter 22 Surgical Therapies for Epilepsy
- Chapter 23 Stimulation Therapies for Epilepsy
- Chapter 24 Practical and Psychosocial Considerations in Epilepsy Management
- Chapter 25 Comorbidities with Epilepsy
- Chapter 26 System-Based Issues in Epilepsy
- Index
- References
Chapter 13 - Ictal and Interictal Epileptiform Electroencephalogram Patterns
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 11 October 2019
- Understanding Epilepsy
- Understanding Epilepsy
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Contributors
- Preface
- Chapter 1 Pathophysiology of Epilepsy
- Chapter 2 Physiologic Basis of Epileptic EEG Patterns
- Chapter 3 Pathology of the Epilepsies
- Chapter 4 Classifications of Seizures and Epilepsies
- Chapter 5 Electro-clinical Syndromes and Epilepsies in the Neonatal Period, Infancy, and Childhood
- Chapter 6 Familial Electro-clinical Syndromes and Epilepsies in Adolescence to Adulthood
- Chapter 7 Distinctive Constellations and Other Epilepsies
- Chapter 8 Seizures Not Diagnosed as Epilepsy
- Chapter 9 Nonepileptic Spells
- Chapter 10 Status Epilepticus
- Chapter 11 EEG Instrumentation and Basics
- Chapter 12 Interpreting the Normal Electroencephalogram of an Adult
- Chapter 13 Ictal and Interictal Epileptiform Electroencephalogram Patterns
- Chapter 14 Neonatal and Pediatric Electroencephalogram
- Chapter 15 Scalp Video-EEG Monitoring
- Chapter 16 Intracranial EEG Monitoring
- Chapter 17 Neuroimaging in Epilepsy
- Chapter 18 The Role of Neuropsychology in Epilepsy Surgery
- Chapter 19 Principles of Antiseizure Drug Management
- Chapter 20 Gender Issues in Epilepsy
- Chapter 21 Antiseizure Drugs
- Chapter 22 Surgical Therapies for Epilepsy
- Chapter 23 Stimulation Therapies for Epilepsy
- Chapter 24 Practical and Psychosocial Considerations in Epilepsy Management
- Chapter 25 Comorbidities with Epilepsy
- Chapter 26 System-Based Issues in Epilepsy
- Index
- References
Summary
According to the International Federation of Societies for Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology (IFSECN), epileptiform activity is defined as distinctive waveforms or complexes resembling those recorded in a proportion of human subjects suffering from epileptic disorders and in animals rendered epileptic experimentally.1 The suggestibility of epileptiform findings should not be considered absolute, and the patient’s clinical history should be taken into account when considering a diagnosis of epilepsy. Though the diagnosis of epilepsy can be entirely based on clinical history without evidence of epileptiform activity on the patient’s electroencephalogram (EEG), the presence of interictal discharges without an appropriate clinical history does not qualify the patient for a diagnosis of epilepsy. About 10% of patients who do not have epilepsy have been known to have nonspecific abnormalities on their EEG, and about 1% can have epileptiform interictal discharges without seizures. The incidence of such interictal activity is increased in children. Eeg-Olofsson et al. reported that 1.9% of 743 normal children had epileptiform discharges on their EEGs.2 Others report even more frequent occurrence of epileptiform abnormalities, up to 2–3%, in the pediatric population. In addition, several factors – including medications, skull defects, certain medical conditions, and artifacts from multiple sources – can modify recorded activity and ultimately render EEG interpretation abnormal.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Understanding EpilepsyA Study Guide for the Boards, pp. 239 - 250Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2019