Periventricular nodular heterotopia and childhood absence epilepsy.

A young female presented with an epileptic syndrome resembling childhood absence epilepsy, a normal neurologic examination, generalized 3-Hz spike-and-wave discharges, and clinical absences. Her seizures responded to treatment with valproic acid. Other abnormalities in her electroencephalogram prompted neuroimaging studies, which demonstrated periventricular nodular heterotopia. Review of published reports confirmed this presentation to be atypical of this developmental lesion. The authors describe their patient and discuss this unexpected association and the relevant reports briefly.