Accidental finding of Sturge-Weber syndrome presented to the emergency department with persistent seizures - an unusual case report from Somalia

Sep 29, 2026

A clinical case report describes an 18-year-old woman who presented to the emergency department with recurrent generalized tonic-clonic seizures and headache, accompanied by a congenital purplish facial and scalp birthmark. The facial port-wine stain, distributed along the trigeminal nerve, guided diagnostic suspicion, while cranial CT imaging demonstrated associated leptomeningeal vascular abnormalities consistent with Sturge-Weber syndrome. The report highlights the importance of early recognition of this rare neurocutaneous disorder in emergency settings to enable timely diagnosis and improve outcomes and quality of life.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

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Introduction

Case presentation

Discussion

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Case Report Accidental finding of Sturge-Weber syndrome presented to the emergency department with persistent seizures: an unusual case report from Somalia Sowdo Nur Iyow, MBBSa , Ismail Gedi Ibrahim, MDb , Selim Turfan, MDa , Ubah Mumin Ali Osman, MDa , Muna Abdirahman Ibrahim, MBBSa , Mohamed Farah Yusuf Mohamud, MDc ,d,* Introduction: Sturge-Weber syndrome, also known as encephalotrigeminal angiomatosis, is a rare neurocutaneous disorder characterized by the presence of craniofacial capillary malformations (port-wine stain birthmark) in association with leptomeningeal vascular abnormalities. The syndrome is usually sporadic, but some cases may have a genetic basis. Case presentation: Here we report a case of an 18-year-old female who was brought to our Emergency department with a history of seizures and a facial birthmark. Based on the clinical presentation, characteristic facial birthmark, and cranian CT scan findings, the patient was diagnosed with Sturge-Weber syndrome. Discussion: This case emphasizes the importance of early recognition of Sturge-Weber syndrome in emergency settings. The patient’s port-wine stain, localized to the distribution of the trigeminal nerve, was a critical clue in guiding the diagnosis. Imaging revealed associated leptomeningeal angiomas, corroborating the clinical suspicion. Such findings underline the necessity for healthcare providers to maintain a high index of suspicion for neurocutaneous disorders in patients presenting with unexplained seizures and specific cutaneous manifestations. Conclusion: This case underscores the need for healthcare providers to maintain a high index of suspicion for Sturge-Weber syndrome, particularly in patients presenting with unexplained seizures and distinctive facial cutaneous findings. Early diagnosis and intervention are essential to improve patient outcomes and quality of life. Enhanced awareness and education among medical professionals can lead to timely recognition and management of this rare condition. Keywords: angiomatosis, emergency department, port-wine stain, Sturge-Weber syndrome Introduction Sturge-Weber Syndrome (SWS), often known as encephalotrigeminal angiomatosis is a congenital, non-heritable illness that affects the brain, eyes, and craniofacial skin that is supplied by the trigeminal nerve[1,2] . Despite being rare, SWS is the most common condition among neurocutaneous syndromes, particularly those with vascular features, occurring in about 1 in 50 000 live birthsand affecting all racial groups equally[3] . Although the exact cause aEmergency Department, Mogadishu Somali Turkey Training and Research Hospital, Mogadishu, Somalia, bRadiology Department, Mogadishu Somali Turkey Training and Research Hospital, Mogadishu, Somalia, cFacult of Medicine and Surgery, Mogadishu University, Mogadishu, Somalia and dTayo Institute for Health and Development, Mogadishu, Somalia Sponsorships or competing interests that may be relevant to content are disclosed at the end of this article. *Corresponding author. Address: Facult of Medicine and Surgery, Mogadishu University, Hodan District, Mogadishu, Somalia. Tel.: +252 615591689. [E-mail: m.qadar59@gmail.com](E-mail: m.qadar59@gmail.com) (M.F.Y. Mohamud). Copyright © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives License 4.0 (CCBY-NC-ND), where it is permissible to download and share the work provided it is properly cited. The work cannot be changed in any way or used commercially without permission from the journal. Annals of Medicine & Surgery (2026) 88:771–774 Received 18 August 2024; Accepted 20 November 2024 Published online 25 November 2025 [http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MS9.0000000000002900](http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MS9.0000000000002900) is unknown, it is thought to result from the abnormal persistence of an embryonic vascula

FAQs

What condition was suspected and diagnosed in the emergency department?

The patient was diagnosed with Sturge-Weber syndrome based on the clinical facial birthmark and cranial CT findings along with persistent seizures.

What clinical sign helped guide the diagnosis?

A port-wine stain birthmark on the patient’s face and scalp, localized to the trigeminal nerve distribution, served as a critical diagnostic clue.

How do the authors describe the role of imaging in this case?

Imaging revealed associated leptomeningeal angiomas, which corroborated the clinical suspicion of Sturge-Weber syndrome.

Sep 29, 2026

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