SNOMEDCT: 770623004; ORPHA: 25968;
Although Gibbs and Gibbs (1952) described the electroencephalographic features in 1952, it was Gastaut (1982) who 30 years later recognized 'benign occipital epilepsy' as a form of partial epilepsy in children. Kuzniecky and Rosenblatt (1987) studied a family in which 3 sibs had benign occipital epilepsy and a fourth had the EEG findings. Typical EEG abnormality was found in other relatives. These EEG changes were evident particularly in younger members. BOE is characterized by motor seizures, preceded in some cases by visual symptoms, and a relatively benign course. Kuzniecky and Rosenblatt (1987) cited several other workers who found families with a frequent history of epilepsy.
Gastaut, H. A new type of epilepsy: benign partial epilepsy of childhood with occipital spike-waves. Clin. Electroencephalogr. 13: 13-22, 1982. [PubMed: 6802526] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1177/155005948201300102]
Gibbs, F., Gibbs, E. Atlas of Electroencephalography. Vol. 2. Cambridge, Mass.: Adison-Wesley (pub.) 1952. Pp. 281-290.
Kuzniecky, R., Rosenblatt, B. Benign occipital epilepsy: a family study. Epilepsia 28: 346-350, 1987. [PubMed: 3113923] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1528-1157.1987.tb03655.x]