Harmatomas

Dear Doctors,
My 5 yr. old daughter was diagnosed with tuberous sclerosis. We
are most fortunate that for now her only problems seem to be
some mild behavior problems and a harmatoma that causes abscence
seizures that are under control with lamictal. My question is
what exactly is a harmatoma? Will it change in size and is there
anything that can be done about it? Thank you for your time.

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Angela:

I am sorry to hear about your daughter.  Harmatomas are normal tissues undergoing abnormal proliferation or growth.  They are a nonneoplastic growth of brain tissue.  Some think that these can under dedifferentiation and cause astrocytomas, but I think the data is not clear.  Most of the time, they do not grow further or only very slowly. When some harmatomas induce intractable seizures, we will remove them and cure the seizure disorders.  That does depend on where the harmatomas are located.  As long as your daughter does not have changes in the eye and kidney that is very good.  

I hope I helped.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD