[Benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes: high and low central focus].

Twenty children with benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes were studied. Anamnesis, neurological exam, "Columbia" Scale (1993) application and digital electroencephalogram were carried out. The digital electroencephalogram was recorded with electrodes according to 10-20 international system, and a supplementary electrode, between C3 and T3 or C4 and T4-C5 or C6, respectively, at the side with a higher number of spikes. The averaging of the spikes was carried. Localization and the laterality of the spikes were analyzed. Seizures involving a superior limb occurred in a higher proportion of cases with spikes of maximum negativity in C3, C4. Independent epileptiform activity, different from centrotemporal, was more frequent in the cases were the maximum negativity of the spikes occurred in C3 or C4 regions. There are clinical and electroencephalographic differences according to the localization of the discharges