Malformation of the cortical development associated with severe clusters of epileptic seizures

Three cases of the malformation of the cortical development are described: a mixed breed dog and a Border Collie pup with a focal and diffuse cortical dysplasia, respectively, and a kitten with lissencephaly. All cases presented with intractable epilepsy and were euthanized, due to the cluster of epileptic seizures. The gross examination at necropsy revealed the morphologic alteration of the telencephalic region in two cases. Histopathologically, a disorganization of the cortical lamination with the presence of megalic neurons, was found in the focal cortical dysplasia case. An altered organization of the white and gray matter, with a loss of the normal neuronal distribution and altered neurons, characterized the diffuse cortical dysplasia case. In the lissencephalic cat, there was no recognizable organization of the brain with areas of neuroglial tissue forming nodules in the leptomeningeal space. We strongly support the hypothesis that, as in humans, as well as in the veterinary patients, malformations of the cortical development could be the cause of refractory epilepsy.