Benign Epilepsy with Centrotemporal Spikes (BECTS)
Description
- Brief, simple partial seizures with associated somatosensory symptoms that often spread, sometimes in the typical "Jacksonian march" or generalized into tonic-clonic seizures
- Occur mostly at night (50-81%), although in some, during sleep and awake states (5-40%) or only while awake (0-32%)
- Occur infrequently
- Show unilateral somatosensory involvement, often of the tongue
- Interrupt speech
- May lead to pooling of saliva and gurgling noises (ask specifically about these symptoms)
- Do not cause confusion or amnesia
Prognosis
Clinical Assessment
Treatment
Resources
Helpful Articles
PubMed search for BECTS in children, last 3 years
Kramer U, Zelnik N, Lerman-Sagie T, Shahar E.
Benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes: clinical characteristics and identification of patients at risk for
multiple seizures.
J Child Neurol.
2002;17(1):17-9.
PubMed abstract
Wickens S, Bowden SC, D'Souza W.
Cognitive functioning in children with self-limited epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Epilepsia.
2017;58(10):1673-1685.
PubMed abstract
Cheng D, Yan X, Gao Z, Xu K, Zhou X, Chen Q.
Common and Distinctive Patterns of Cognitive Dysfunction in Children With Benign Epilepsy Syndromes.
Pediatr Neurol.
2017;72:36-41.e1.
PubMed abstract
Doumlele K, Friedman D, Buchhalter J, Donner EJ, Louik J, Devinsky O.
Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy Among Patients With Benign Childhood Epilepsy With Centrotemporal Spikes.
JAMA Neurol.
2017;74(6):645-649.
PubMed abstract / Full Text
Page Bibliography
Cheng D, Yan X, Gao Z, Xu K, Zhou X, Chen Q.
Common and Distinctive Patterns of Cognitive Dysfunction in Children With Benign Epilepsy Syndromes.
Pediatr Neurol.
2017;72:36-41.e1.
PubMed abstract
Doumlele K, Friedman D, Buchhalter J, Donner EJ, Louik J, Devinsky O.
Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy Among Patients With Benign Childhood Epilepsy With Centrotemporal Spikes.
JAMA Neurol.
2017;74(6):645-649.
PubMed abstract / Full Text
Wickens S, Bowden SC, D'Souza W.
Cognitive functioning in children with self-limited epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Epilepsia.
2017;58(10):1673-1685.
PubMed abstract