After headache, epilepsy is the most common neurologic problem in children. MassGeneral Hospital for Children offers a full range of medical management and all of the established and new anti-epileptic drugs. Most pediatric seizure disorders are well managed with appropriate medical therapy. Where medical management fails, however, or when a condition is found for which surgery is the best option, a child should be evaluated carefully for surgical intervention.
We offer all forms of surgical epilepsy treatment including:
- Cortical resections
- Temporal lobectomies
- Hemispherectomies and hemispheric disconnection procedures
- Callosotomies
- Multiple subpial transections
- Vagus nerve stimulation
- Placement of subdural grids and depth electrodes
At MassGeneral Hospital for Children, the recommendation to consider surgery is initially made by the epilepsy surgery team, a comprehensive multi-disciplinary group comprising:
- Pediatric epileptologists
- Neurologists
- Neurosurgeons
- Neuropsychologists
- Psychologists
- Nurses
- Neuro-clinical social workers
- EEG technologists
- Occupational therapists
Comprehensive Evaluation
The evaluation usually includes a hospital stay for EEG monitoring, with 24-hour continuous video monitoring. To aid in the surgical evaluation, some of the most advanced imaging capabilities in the world are being utilized. In addition to standard CT and MRI, offerings include PET (positron emission tomography) scanning for looking at the body’s biochemical functions, functional MRI for providing 3D structural and functional brain imaging, MR spectroscopy for viewing the neurochemistry of the brain and special, high-resolution MRI scanning provide detailed anatomical views, and magnetoencephalography.
The evaluation is conducted on the pediatric unit with special pediatric support systems in place, including dedicated epilepsy nurse specialists and pediatric neurosurgery nurse practitioners who provide ongoing support for the child and family throughout the child’s treatment plan.
-
A brain tumor is an abnormal growth of tissue in the brain. The tumor can either originate in the brain itself, or come from another part of the body and travel to the brain (metastasize). Brain tumors may be classified as either benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous), depending on their behavior.
-
Epilepsy is a neurological condition involving the brain that makes people more susceptible to having seizures.
-
Landau-Kleffner syndrome (also called infantile acquired aphasia, acquired epileptic aphasia or aphasia with convulsive disorder) is a language disorder characterized by the gradual or sudden loss of the ability to use or comprehend spoken language.
-
Neurocutaneous syndrome is a broad term for a group of neurologic disorders that can cause tumors to grow inside the brain, spinal cord, organs, skin and skeletal bones.
Contact Us
MGHfC Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery
Wang Ambulatory Care Center
Suite 33155 Fruit Street
Boston, MA
02114
- Near Public Transit
- Accessible
- Phone: 617-724-6590
- Fax: 617-726-2424
To schedule an appointment with a MassGeneral for Children pediatric specialist, please call 888-644-3248 or complete our online appointment form to request an appointment.
Physicians may call 888-644-3211 or use the online referral form and the Access & New Appointment Center will call your patient within 1 business day.
Contact the Epilepsy Surgery Program at:
617-724-6590
Back to Top