Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome and epilepsy

Abstract

Four patients affected with the nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome and recurrent seizures are described and the pertinent literature is reviewed. Three of the patients had multiple basal cell carcinomas and cutaneous nevi, dentigerous cysts, and skeletal anomalies characteristic of the syndrome. The seizures had their onset in childhood and were generalized tonic-clonic in three patients and both tonic-clonic and complex partial in the fourth. Focal neurological deficits were found in only one patient. Pneumoencephalography in two patients and head CT scan in a third were negative. Electroencephalography showed focal spike discharges in one patient, bilateral anterior paroxysmal slowing in another, and nonspecific shifting temporal theta transients in the other two cases. Psychometric testing yielded full-scale scores ranging from 39 to 84. In addition to mental retardation, congenital communicating hydrocephalus, and medulloblastoma, seizures should be included among the neurological manifestations of the nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome.