John F. Kerrigan, MD, Director, Hypothalamic Hamartoma Program, Phoenix Children's Hospital
Hypothalamic Hamartoma and Brain Imaging
Most conditions that cause epilepsy affect the cortex of the brain (the gray matter lining the surface of the brain), and therefore that is where most seizures originate.
Hypothalamic hamartomas (HH) are unique as a cause of epilepsy, as seizures begin in the hypothalamus (located at the base of the brain, below the cortex). As a result, the gelastic (laughing) seizures associated with HH are regarded as “sub-cortical”. HH are the exception to the rule.
We are grateful to the publishers who have generously provided permission to link to many full articles pertaining to hypothalamic hamartomas below. Other publishers have permitted us to include abstracts or summaries of articles.
For research articles on the diagnosis and treatment of hypothalamic hamartomas, as well as related topics, visit the research article pages.
- Overview
- Cognitive, Behavioral, Psychiatric
- Endocrinology
- Dacrystic (crying) Seizures
- Adults and HH
- HH, the Hypothalamus and Generalized Epilepsy
- Surgical Treatments
- Pallister Hall and Heritable Syndromes
- MRI Imaging and EEGs
If you have other recent, scientific, peer reviewed research articles we should add to this collection, please send an email to research@hopeforhh.org.
From Dateline NBC to the New York Times, learn about hypothalamic hamartoma patients, caregivers, and surgeons whose extraordinary stories and skillful interventions have made the news.
There are many resources including books, lectures etc... about epilepsy, seizures, raising resilient children, and learning disabilities that we have found helpful. Please let us know if there are others you recommend as well
For links to other helpful epilepsy, caregiver, research, financial aid and travel resources.
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