Erin Kiehna, MD, a pediatric neurosurgeon at Charlotte, N.C.-based Novant Health, recently performed a novel procedure to remove a rare brain tumor from a 2-year-old patient, WBTV reports.
Known as "gelastic epilepsy," the rare condition involves sudden bursts of energy, typically in the form of laughing or crying. Out of every 1,000 epilepsy patients, only one or two are diagnosed with gelastic epilepsy, according to Epilepsy Action, a U.K.-based charity.
The tumor can cause cognitive impairment, developmental delays and psychiatric symptoms if left untreated.
The minimally invasive procedure involved Dr. Kiehna removing the tumor through a small incision, which has since stopped the patient's seizures, according to WBTV.