To establish best-practice recommendations for the diagnosis, evaluation, and management of hypothalamic hamartomas (HH) through expert consensus.
Approach:
Study Design: A modified Delphi consensus study involving experts from 17 ILAE Level II epilepsy surgery centers.
Survey Methodology: The survey evaluated 257 questions across two rounds, achieving consensus on 82% of questions.
Key Findings:
Highlights the importance of early referral and protocol-driven evaluation.
Supports individualized surgical planning based on lesion size, location, and surgical expertise.
Advocates for a multidisciplinary, coordinated approach to optimize outcomes for children with HH.
Interpretation:
The consensus reflects a collective agreement among experts on the management of HH, highlighting the need for standardized care in a field with historically varied treatment approaches.
Limitations:
The study is based on expert opinion due to the rarity of HH and limited high-quality evidence.
Conclusion:
The findings contribute to advancing evidence-based pediatric epilepsy care and establishing international clinical standards.
