Can you live with half of a brain?
“As remarkable as it is that there are individuals who can live with half a brain, sometimes a very small brain lesion — like a stroke or a traumatic brain injury or a tumor — can have devastating effects,” she noted.
How many cases of hemimegalencephaly are there?
Hemimegalencephaly (HME) is a rare congenital malformation of the brain characterized by overgrowth of one hemisphere. [1] Its prevalence ranges from 1 to 3 cases/1000 epileptic children and 1–14% among those with cortical developmental abnormalities.
How is the head of a child with hemimegalencephaly treated?
Children with this disorder may have a large, asymmetrical head accompanied by seizures, partial paralysis, and impaired cognitive development. [2] [3] Because the seizures associated with hemimegalencephaly are difficult to treat with anticonvulsant medications, a surgery called hemispherectomy is often the most successful treatment.
When do seizures in association with hemimegalencephaly occur?
Seizures in association with HME often begin in early infant life including an association with infantile spasms. Hemimegalencephaly may occur as an isolated or sporadic brain malformation or it may be associated with other neurodevelopmental syndromes.
Is there a cure or treatment for megalencephaly?
There is no standard treatment for megalencephaly. Treatment will depend upon the disorder with which the megalencephaly is associated and will address individual symptoms and disabilities. There is no standard treatment for megalencephaly.
How is hemimegalencephaly related to Sotos syndrome?
Hemimegalencephaly may also occur in association with Sotos syndrome and Alexander disease. These syndromes arise as a result of complex genetic activities such as single or multiple gene mutations. The mutations causing these disorders can be inherited or occur randomly during fetal development.