Doctors At Apollo Cancer Centre, Bengaluru End Woman’s 25-Year Struggle With Rare “Laughing Seizures” Using Advanced Technology.

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Bengaluru, Karnataka, 25th of March 2026 : In a significant clinical outcome, Apollo Cancer Centre, Bannerghatta Road, has successfully treated a 30-year-old woman with Gelastic seizures using CyberKnife technology. The patient had been experiencing 30 to 40 uncontrollable laughing episodes every day for 25 years despite multiple anti-epileptic medications and extensive neurological evaluation. Following CyberKnife treatment, her seizures reduced sharply, marking a substantial improvement after decades of daily episodes.

Gelastic seizures are an extremely rare form of epilepsy, often described as “laughing seizures,” where patients experience sudden uncontrollable laughter caused by abnormal brain activity. Seen more commonly in women and typically beginning in childhood, these seizures represent only a very small proportion of epilepsy cases worldwide. They are most commonly associated with hypothalamic hamartoma, a benign brain tumour, and are frequently misdiagnosed and difficult to treat with conventional medication.

CyberKnife tracks tumour motion and automatically corrects the treatment beam when movement is detected. It delivers radiation with sub-millimetre accuracy through the use of continual image guidance and robotic arm. As a result, the radiation is directed completely to the target with steep dose fall off sparing the normal tissues around. It can be used in wide range of cancers, benign tumors and functional disorders.

The success of this treatment offers renewed hope for patients with gelastic seizures and other complex neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, trigeminal neuralgia and cervical dystonia—particularly those who do not respond to conventional medication. It also presents a non-invasive alternative to surgical interventions, including deep brain stimulation.

“At Apollo Cancer Centre, Bangalore, we constantly push the boundaries of what advanced, non-invasive care can achieve,” said Dr. Sridhar P S, Senior Consultant, Lead- CyberKnife at Apollo Cancer Centre, Bangalore. “For patients with rare and complex epilepsy conditions, CyberKnife gives us the ability to precisely target the seizure-triggering area without opening the skull or using anesthesia. Its accuracy protects healthy brain tissue, and the entire treatment remains painless, safe and highly effective. This marks a significant step forward in how we can support patients who previously had very limited options. We’ve already witnessed how this approach can completely change a patient’s quality of life. Watching our patient regain control, return to routine activities and experience a level of stability they had been hoping for has been profoundly encouraging. For many who had almost no viable options, this truly offers a new lease of life.”

“Gelastic seizures are among the most challenging forms of epilepsy to diagnose and manage, largely due to their rarity and atypical presentation,” said Dr. Gurucharan Adoor, Senior Consultant – Neurology, Apollo Hospitals, Bannerghatta Road, Bengaluru. “In long-standing cases like this, patients often go through years of limited response to anti-epileptic therapies. What is particularly encouraging here is the sustained reduction in seizure frequency post-treatment, which not only improves neurological stability but also has a profound impact on the patient’s cognitive, emotional and social well-being. Early identification and access to advanced treatment options can significantly alter outcomes in such complex cases.”

After receiving the advanced treatment, the patient experienced only 3 episodes in the entire year following the procedure, compared to the 30 daily episodes she had endured for 25 years. The success of this case highlights how advanced technology is transforming the treatment of rare and complex neurological disorders, offering new hope to patients and families who previously had limited options.