EEG University

Non-Convulsive Seizures in the Encephalopathic Critically Ill Cancer Patient Does Not Necessarily Portend a Poor Prognosis

Cristina Gutierrez, Merry Chen, Lei Feng, and Sudhakar Tummala | Accepted 19 November 2019

CANCER:

NCSE in critically ill cancer patients should be promptly diagnosed and treated

NCS in critically ill cancer patients is associated with abnormalities on brain imaging and lower prevalence of organ failure. Diagnosis and treatment of NCS should be a priority in encephalopathic cancer patients, as they can have lower mortality than non-seizing patients.

Opposite to other populations, NCS should not be considered a poor prognostic factor in critically ill encephalopathic cancer patients as they reflect a reversible cause for altered mentation.