Which type of tumor is least likely to cause epileptiform activity in EEG?

Pituitary adenomas are typically considered the least likely to cause epileptiform activity in EEG recordings. The reason for this stems from their location and the nature of these tumors. Pituitary adenomas are located in the sella turcica at the base of the skull and primarily affect the pituitary gland, which is not directly associated with the cortex or the structures that generate cortical electrical activity. Because they often don’t invade adjacent brain tissue or produce physical irritation or disruption to surrounding neuronal pathways, the likelihood of them causing seizures or epileptiform discharges on EEG is lower compared to other tumor types.

In contrast, glioblastomas and astrocytomas are types of brain tumors that arise from glial cells and are more invasive, infiltrating nearby brain tissue. This invasive nature leads to cortical irritation, which can manifest as epileptiform activity on an EEG. Meningiomas, while often extra-axial and arising from the meninges, can also lead to seizures due to their location and potential to exert mass effects on the brain tissue, even if they do not directly invade it. Therefore, while various factors can influence seizure activity in relation to tumors, the pituitary adenoma stands out as the least likely to produce epilept