Diagnostic reassessment in patients previously diagnosed with childhood-onset epilepsy during the transition to adult care: A retrospective cohort study in a tertiary epilepsy center.

Many people diagnosed with epilepsy in childhood continue medical care into adulthood, but their diagnosis may need to be reviewed later in life. In this study, nearly one in five patients who had been diagnosed with childhood-onset epilepsy required a change or refinement of their diagnosis when reassessed after age 16. Patients with seizures without clear physical movements and those whose seizures occurred weekly or monthly were more likely to need diagnostic review. These findings highlight the importance of reviewing the diagnosis during adolescence, especially for patients who have not previously been evaluated at specialized epilepsy centers.