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86906 Hypothalamic hamartomas with gelastic seizures

definition

Hypothalamic hamartomas with gelastic seizures is a rare cerebral malformation with epilepsy syndrome characterized by early-onset gelastic (i.e. ictal laughter) or dacrystic (i.e., ictal crying) seizures due to non-neoplastic developmental malformation - hypothalamic hamartomas. In many patients, seizures progress to other seizure types including focal and generalized seizures, with concomitant cognitive decline and behavioral disorders. Some patients also present a precocious puberty.