Epileptic and non-epileptic cerebral palsy: EEG and cranial imaging findings

The aims of the study were to compare the clinical types, electroencephalogram (EEG) and cranial magnetic resonance imaging/computed tomography findings of epileptic and non-epileptic cerebral palsy (CP) patients. Seventy-four patients with CP were evaluated in 2 years. Tetraplegic CP had a higher incidence of epilepsy (60.5%). EEG was confirmed abnormal in epileptic CP as 90.3%, and in non-epileptic CP as 39.5%. Focal epileptiform activity, generalized slowing, and multifocal epileptiform activity were significantly frequent in epileptic CP. There were cranial imaging abnormalities of 74.2% in epileptic and 48.8% in non-epileptic CP. Although there was not any statistically significant difference between the two groups, epileptic group revealed more structural abnormalities. Further studies concerning a possible risk of epilepsy development and its relations with the EEG and cranial imaging findings are needed in presenting the other risk factors involved and the factors affecting the CP prognosis.