Ictal aphasia as manifestation of partial status epilepticus provoked by bleeding cavernoma: Diagnostic role of neuroimaging [Afasia ictale come manifestazione di stato di male epilettico parziale provocato dal sanguinamento di un cavernoma: Ruolo diagnostico del neuroimaging]

ABSTRACT: Occurrence of epilepsy in patients with cavernoma is 40-70%. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is the most appropriate method to identify cavernomas; late diagnosis could occur when MRI execution is delayed. Partial status epilepticus could represent the manifestation of acute bleeding cavernoma. Ictal aphasia is unfrequent as the sole symptom of partial status epilepticus. We reported a case of a patient affected with partial epilepsy hospitalized because of recurrent episodes of ictal aphasia, with postictal calculation deficit, caused by misdiagnosed left parietal bleeding cavernoma. Albeit the diagnosis of epilepsy in our patient is not recent, MRI played a key role in the diagnosis of structural abnormalities underlying epilepsy and is mandatory in patients affected with focal seizures.