New-onset epilepsy patients at risk of tumours?

People with new-onset epilepsy, who may be seeking respite care, should be especially cautious about their condition, one expert has advised.

Research published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry found that epileptic seizures can come before the development of a brain tumour by years.

The risk of a tumour was found to be highest among individuals first admitted to hospital for an epileptic seizure between the ages of 15 and 44.

Moreover, when compared to people admitted for other common disorders, people who were admitted to the hospital with an epileptic seizure for the first time were just under 20 times as likely to develop a tumour.

Delphine van der Pauw, of Epilepsy Research UK, commented that the findings were "concerning".

The expert explained that the results indicate epilepsy can be triggered by developing tumours that are hard to find using diagnostic imaging and only become apparent years later when they are harder to treat.

"We feel that in light of these findings, increased vigilance surrounding the diagnosis of new-onset epilepsy is warranted," she said.

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