Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Hypothalamic Hamartoma

Hypothalamic hamartoma are non-neoplastic lesions often characterized by central precocious puberty and gelastic epilepsy. Due to their delicate location, surgery is often unsuccessful and associated with considerable risks. In the presented series, Gamma knife radiosurgery was applied. Four cases (aged between 5 and 13 years) who presented with medically intractable gelastic epilepsy and increasing secondary generalization, abnormal behaviour and precocious puberty (3 cases) are reported. Hypothalamic hamartomas 11–17mm in size had been diagnosed by MR imaging. Radiosurgical treatment was performed in general anaesthesia with margin doses of 12–14 Gy to the 50–90% isodoses covering volumes of 600–2300 mm3. After follow-up periods of 12 to 68 months, a continuing decrease both in seizure frequency and intensity was noted [outcome according to Engel: II a (3 cases) and III a (1 case)]. All patients are socially reintegrated. MR imaging did not reveal significant changes concerning the size of the lesions. Gamma knife radiosurgery can be an effective and safe alternative treatment modality for HH and is capable of achieving good seizure control and improving behavioural disorders in selected cases.