[Solved]: You are … an electroneurodiagnostic technician workin

You are … an electroneurodiagnostic technician working with Gregory Solis, MD, a neurosurgeon at Fulwood Medical Center. Your patlent is … Ms. Roberta Gaston, a 39-year-old woman, who has been referred by Raul Cardenas, MD, a neurologist, for evaluation for possible neurosurgery. Ms. Gaston has had epileptic seizures since the age of 16 . She has generalized tonic-clonic seizures occurring once a week. She also has daily minor spells when she stops interacting with her surroundings and blinks rhythmically for about 20 seconds, after which she returns to normal. Numerous antiepileptic drugs, including phenobarbital, valproic acid, and phenytoin, have been tried with no relief. She is not able to work and is cared for by her parents. Her neurologic examination is normal. Her EEG (electroencephalogram) shows diffuse spike-and-wave discharges with a left-sided frontal predominance. Her CT (computed tomography) is normal. An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) shows a 20-mm diameter mass adjacent to the anterior horn of her left ventricle. Continuous EEG/video monitoring shows ictal activity in the left frontal lobe. Which diagnostic test revealed the cause of Ms. Gaston’s seizures? Which specialist will treat the cause of the seizures? What is the current name for her “minor spells”? Of all of the diagnostic tests, which came back as normal? Were the medications effective in controlling the seizures?