Taylor dysplasia

Taylor dysplasia is a type of focal cortical dysplasia and a common cause of refractory epilepsy. Under both the Palmini classification and the more recent Blumcke classification of focal cortical dysplasia, Taylor dysplasia is classified as type II. 

For further discussion of the radiographic features please refer to the parent article: focal cortical dysplasia.

Pathology

Taylor dysplasia is determined histologically due to the presence of certain features such as giant neurons, and dysmorphic neurons with or without balloon cells ^4,7. The latter further subdivides Taylor dysplasia into two main subtypes ^2,7.

• type IIa: no balloon cells

• type IIb: balloon cells present

See Palmini classification and Blumcke classification.

History and etymology

Taylor dysplasia is named after the British psychiatrist David C Taylor (1933-2021), who first described it in 1971 ⁵.

Differential diagnosis

• grey matter heterotopia

  • subcortical heterotopia