Temporal Lobectomy (temporal + lobectomy)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Kinds of Temporal Lobectomy

  • anterior temporal lobectomy


  • Selected Abstracts


    One-Year Postoperative Autobiographical Memory Following Unilateral Temporal Lobectomy for Control of Intractable Epilepsy

    EPILEPSIA, Issue 3 2007
    Virginie Voltzenlogel
    Summary:,Purpose: To examine the effects of temporal lobectomy (TL), particularly concerning its lateralization. Methods: Patients completed autobiographical memory tests, preoperatively and 1-year postoperatively. Results: (a) right TL (RTL) patients recalled significantly more memories from the year after surgery than from the year before TL; (b) their pre to postoperative improvement on autobiographical memory scores was positively correlated to improvement of delayed story recall scores; and (c) 1 year after surgery, performance on recent personal memory recall was normalized for RTL patients only. Conclusion: We suggest that, in the absence of recurrent seizures, the relative integrity of the left hemisphere together with residual right hemisphere structures sustains postoperative autobiographical memory consolidation, at least 1 year postoperatively. [source]


    Memory, Emotional and Vocational Impairments before and after Anterior Temporal Lobectomy for Complex Partial Seizures

    EPILEPSIA, Issue 11 2006
    Mario F. Dulay
    Summary:,Purpose: To assess the pre- and postsurgical frequency of memory, emotional, and vocational impairments in patients who underwent anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL), and to assess the relationship between emotional disturbance and memory abilities after ATL. Methods: Retrospective analysis of data was performed on 90 patients with medically intractable complex partial seizures who underwent ATL between 1981 and 2003. Patients were evaluated an average of 5 months before surgery and 11.3 months after surgery. Results: A moderate to high frequency of memory impairment (44.4%; verbal or nonverbal), emotional disturbance (38.9%) and unemployment (27.8%) existed in the same individuals both before and after surgery. There were small to moderate rates of new onset memory (18.9%), emotional (11.1%), and vocational (7.8%) difficulties after surgery often regardless of seizure control outcome. Patients who underwent left-ATL and had emotional disturbance after surgery had the lowest verbal memory test scores. Conclusions: Results highlight the importance of taking into account emotional status when assessing memory abilities after ATL. Results replicate the finding of moderate to high frequencies of memory impairment, emotional disturbance, and unemployment both before and after ATL. Results provide support for the rationale that cognitive, psychiatric and vocational interventions are indicated to mitigate the problems that exist before and persist after ATL. [source]


    Facial Emotion Recognition after Curative Nondominant Temporal Lobectomy in Patients with Mesial Temporal Sclerosis

    EPILEPSIA, Issue 8 2006
    Shearwood McClelland III
    Summary:,Purpose: The right (nondominant) amygdala is crucial for processing facial emotion recognition (FER). Patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) associated with mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS) often incur right amygdalar damage, resulting in impaired FER if TLE onset occurred before age 6 years. Consequently, early right mesiotemporal insult has been hypothesized to impair plasticity, resulting in FER deficits, whereas damage after age 5 years results in no deficit. The authors performed this study to test this hypothesis in a uniformly seizure-free postsurgical population. Methods: Controls (n = 10), early-onset patients (n = 7), and late-onset patients (n = 5) were recruited. All patients had nondominant anteromedial temporal lobectomy (AMTL), Wada-confirmed left-hemisphere language dominance and memory support, MTS on both preoperative MRI and biopsy, and were Engel class I 5 years postoperatively. By using a standardized (Ekman and Friesen) human face series, subjects were asked to match the affect of one of two faces to that of a simultaneously presented target face. Target faces expressed fear, anger, or happiness. Results: Statistical analysis revealed that the early-onset group had significantly impaired FER (measured by percentage of faces correct) for fear (p = 0.036), whereas the FER of the late-onset group for fear was comparable to that of controls. FER for anger and happiness was comparable across all three groups. Conclusions: Despite seizure control/freedom after AMTL, early TLE onset continues to impair FER for frightened expressions (but not for angry or happy expression), whereas late TLE onset does not impair FER, with no indication that AMTL resulted in FER impairment. These results indicate that proper development of the right amygdala is necessary for optimal fear recognition, with other neural processes unable to compensate for early amygdalar damage. [source]


    Status Epilepticus after Temporal Lobectomy

    EPILEPSIA, Issue 3 2006
    Edoardo Ferlazzo
    No abstract is available for this article. [source]


    Nonconvulsive Status Epilepticus after Temporal Lobectomy

    EPILEPSIA, Issue 1 2006
    José L. Fernández-Torre
    No abstract is available for this article. [source]


    Seizure Outcome after Temporal Lobectomy in Temporal Lobe Cortical Dysplasia

    EPILEPSIA, Issue 11 2003
    Teeradej Srikijvilaikul
    Summary:,Purpose: To identify the temporal lobe cortical dysplasia (CD) histopathology classification subtype and determine the seizure outcome of patients who underwent temporal lobectomy with coincident CD. Methods: We reviewed the data of 28 patients with temporal lobe epilepsy who underwent surgery with pathologically verified CD at our institution from 1990 to 2000. The seizure outcome was assessed at a minimum of 1 year after surgery according to Engel's classification. Results: Of 28 patients who underwent surgery, nine (32.1%) had isolated CD, and 19 (67.9%) had CD and hippocampal sclerosis (CD&HS). Twenty-six (92.9%) patients had histopathology subtype Ia (architectural abnormalities). Twenty (71.4%) patients were seizure free (Engel class I). Favorable seizure outcome (Engel class I, II) was achieved in 26 (92.9%) patients. No difference in seizure outcome was noted between patients with CD and CD&HS. Conclusions: The most common histopathologic subtype in patients with temporal lobe CD is type Ia (architectural abnormalities). Temporal lobectomy in temporal lobe epilepsy patients with CD can achieve favorable seizure outcome. [source]


    Seizure Outcome after Temporal Lobectomy: Current Research Practice and Findings

    EPILEPSIA, Issue 10 2001
    A. M. McIntosh
    Summary: ,Purpose: The literature regarding seizure outcome and prognostic factors for outcome after temporal lobectomy is often contradictory. This is problematic, as these data are the basis on which surgical decisions and counseling are founded. We sought to clarify inconsistencies in the literature by critically examining the methods and findings of recent research. Methods: A systematic review of the 126 articles concerning temporal lobectomy outcome published from 1991 was conducted. Results: Major methodologic issues in the literature were heterogeneous definitions of seizure outcome, a predominance of cross-sectional analyses (83% of studies), and relatively short follow-up in many studies. The range of seizure freedom was wide (33,93%; median, 70%); there was a tendency for better outcome in more recent studies. Of 63 factors analyzed, good outcome appeared to be associated with several factors including preoperative hippocampal sclerosis, anterior temporal localization of interictal epileptiform activity, absence of preoperative generalized seizures, and absence of seizures in the first postoperative week. A number of factors had no association with outcome (e.g., age at onset, preoperative seizure frequency, and extent of lateral resection). Conclusions: Apparently conflicting results in the literature may be explained by the methodologic issues identified here (e.g., sample size, selection criteria and method of analysis). To obtain a better understanding of patterns of long-term outcome, increased emphasis on longitudinal analytic methods is required. The systematic review of possible risk factors for seizure recurrence provides a basis for planning further research. [source]


    Psychiatric Outcome After Temporal Lobectomy: A Predictive Study

    EPILEPSIA, Issue 12 2000
    Article first published online: 30 JAN 200
    First page of article [source]


    Magnetic Resonance Analysis of Postsurgical Temporal Lobectomy

    JOURNAL OF NEUROIMAGING, Issue 3 2001
    Taoufik M. Alsaadi MD
    ABSTRACT Background and Purpose. The effect of temporal lobe transection area, volume of postoperative gliosis, and surgical technique on patients' seizure-free outcome is unknown. The authors studied the effects of these variables on patients' seizure-free outcome. Methods. A retrospective review of magnetic resonance imaging examinations acquired 3 to 18 months after temporal lobe resection was carried out for 18 patients with intractable temporal lobe seizures and known postsurgical outcomes for more than 2 years. The total volume of radiologically probable gliosis evident on axial proton-density-weighted images was calculated for each patient using software on an independent console. The total area of temporal lobe surface transected by the scalpel was calculated as well, using sagittal T1-weighted images. The total volume of gliosis, the total area of transected temporal lobe, and the specific type of surgery (sparing vs no sparing of the superior temporal gyrus) were then correlated with the postsurgical outcome of the patients. An examiner with no prior knowledge of the patients' postsurgical outcomes carried out the above calculations and measurements. The patients' postoperative outcome was defined using Engel classifications, and patients were divided into two groups: group A with Engel class 1 (n= 9) and group B with Engel classes 2,4 (n= 9). Results. The mean volumes of postoperative gliosis were not significantly different between group A (3592.3 mm3) and group B (4270 mm3). The mean area of transected temporal lobe was also similar between group A (1865.2 mm2) and group B (1930 mm2). With regard to surgical technique, there were 5 subjects who had the superior temporal gyrus resected and 13 who did not. Eighty percent of patients with the superior temporal gyrus resected were Engel class 1 or 2, whereas only 20% were of Engel class 3 or 4. Conclusion. The authors found no clear association between postoperative outcome and residual temporal lobe gliosis, the surgical technique, or the total area of temporal lobe transected by the scalpel. [source]


    Seizure Outcome after Temporal Lobectomy in Temporal Lobe Cortical Dysplasia

    EPILEPSIA, Issue 11 2003
    Teeradej Srikijvilaikul
    Summary:,Purpose: To identify the temporal lobe cortical dysplasia (CD) histopathology classification subtype and determine the seizure outcome of patients who underwent temporal lobectomy with coincident CD. Methods: We reviewed the data of 28 patients with temporal lobe epilepsy who underwent surgery with pathologically verified CD at our institution from 1990 to 2000. The seizure outcome was assessed at a minimum of 1 year after surgery according to Engel's classification. Results: Of 28 patients who underwent surgery, nine (32.1%) had isolated CD, and 19 (67.9%) had CD and hippocampal sclerosis (CD&HS). Twenty-six (92.9%) patients had histopathology subtype Ia (architectural abnormalities). Twenty (71.4%) patients were seizure free (Engel class I). Favorable seizure outcome (Engel class I, II) was achieved in 26 (92.9%) patients. No difference in seizure outcome was noted between patients with CD and CD&HS. Conclusions: The most common histopathologic subtype in patients with temporal lobe CD is type Ia (architectural abnormalities). Temporal lobectomy in temporal lobe epilepsy patients with CD can achieve favorable seizure outcome. [source]


    Language-Related Potentials in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Before and After Surgical Treatment

    EPILEPSIA, Issue 2000
    Toshihiko Ito
    Purpose: Temporal lobectomy has contributed to treatment for medically intractable epilepsies. However, influence of the surgical treatment on cognitive function is not still clear, especially from the electrophysiological viewpoint. N400, an event related potential (ERP) named for its negative polarity and peak latency of 400 ms, is reported to be an electrophysiological sign of neural activities associated with semantic priming in language perception. In the present study, ERPs are applied to evaluate the cognitive function of temporal lobe epilepsy before and after temporal lobectomy. Methods: Two patients with intractable temporal lobe epilepsy participated in this study. Fifteen normal subjects served as controls. The incongruous sentence task (Kutas and Hillyard 1980) was used to record N400 components in an auditory modality. Two types of sentences (40 Japanese sentences for each type) were prepared, in which the terminal words were either semantically congruent or incongruent. The scntences were randomly presented at approximately 65 dB SPL peak intensity. ERPs were recorded according to the international 10,20 system, with a balanced non-cephalic electrode reference and 2 1 channels. The band-pass filter was set from 0.5 to 30 Hz, and the ERPs were sampled at 500 Hz from 200 ms before the onset of terminal words to 824 ms post-stimulus. Waves were calculated by subtracting ERPs in the congruent condition from those in the incongruent condition. N400 was scored as the most negative point between 250 and 450 ms in the subtraction waves. Amplitudes were measured from the baseline of 100 ms before the terminal words. Motor responses were also measured with a right index finger, to estimate the accuracy of understanding sentences. Results: Case I was a 22-year-old male who had intractable epilepsy for 7 years. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed high-intensity signals in the right amygdalo-hippocampal region. The epileptic seizures were confirmed to originate from the region hy electroencephalography/closed-circuit television monitoring, and single-photon-emission computed tomography. ERPs were recorded I month before and after the right anterior temporal lobectomy. Before the surgery, the rate of correct responses showed no difference between the patient (96 %) and the controls (96 %). The amplitudes of N400 for the patient reduced in the right frontal and central areas (F4, C4), comparing to 99 % confidence limit for control subjects. After the surgery, the rate of correct responses was 97 %, and the amplitudes reduced in the right central, parietal, and posterior temporal areas (C4, P4, 0 2, T6). Case 2 (37-year-old female) had intractable epilepsy for 30 years. MRI showed brain atrophy in the right hippocampal region. The epileptic seizures were confirmed to originate from the region. N400 was recorded 3 months after the resection. The rate of correct responses was 95 %. The amplitudes of N400 were lower in the right frontal, parietal, and temporal areas (electrodes Fp2, F4, P4, T6, Pz), comparing to 99 % confidence limit of controls. Conclusions: Before the lpbectomy, the reduction of amplitudes of N400 indicated that the pathogenesis of intractable temporal lobe epilepsy would influence the process of semantic priming in language perception. After the resection, it was suggested that the right temporal lobectomy might affect the cognitive function in the brain from electrophysiological aspects. We could benefit from further study including analysis of the discrepancy between the amplitudes of N400 and behavioral responses. [source]


    Antiepileptic Drug Withdrawal after Successful Surgery for Intractable Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

    EPILEPSIA, Issue 2 2005
    Young Dae Kim
    Summary:,Purpose: To investigate the prognosis related to antiepileptic drug (AED) discontinuation after successful surgery for intractable temporal lobe epilepsy. Methods: The clinical courses after temporal lobectomies (TLs) were retrospectively analyzed in 88 consecutive patients. All the patients had TLs as the only surgical procedure, and they had been followed up for longer than 3 years. AED discontinuation was attempted if the patient had been seizure free without aura for ,1 year during the follow-up period. Results: Sixty-six (75%) patients achieved complete seizure freedom for ,1 year; 28 patients were seizure free immediately after surgery (immediate success); and 38 patients became seizure free after some period of recurrent seizures (delayed success). AED discontinuation was attempted in 60 (91%) of 66 patients with a successful outcome. In 13 (22%) patients, seizure relapse developed during AED reduction (n = 60), and in seven (12%) patients after discontinuation of AEDs (n = 38). The seizure recurrence rate was not different between the immediate- and delayed-success groups. Among 20 patients with seizure relapse related to AED tapering, nine (45%) of them regained seizure freedom after reinstitution of AED treatment, and AEDs were eventually discontinued in six of them. Seizures that recurred after complete AED discontinuation had a better prognosis than did the seizures that recurred during AED reduction (seizure freedom in 86% vs. 23%). At the final assessment, 54 (61%) patients had been seizure free ,1 year; 37 without AEDs and 17 with AEDs. The successful discontinuation of AEDs was more frequent for patients with a younger age at the time of surgery and for those patients with shorter disease duration. Conclusions: Our results suggest that seizure freedom without aura at ,1 year is a reasonable indication for the attempt at AED discontinuation. The subsequent control of recurrent seizures was excellent, especially if seizures relapsed after the complete discontinuation of AEDs. Younger age at the time of surgery and a shorter disease duration seem to affect successful AED discontinuation for a long-term period. [source]


    Wada Memory Performance Predicts Seizure Outcome after Epilepsy Surgery in Children

    EPILEPSIA, Issue 7 2003
    Gregory P. Lee
    Summary: Purpose: Wada memory asymmetries were examined in children from four comprehensive epilepsy surgery centers who subsequently underwent epilepsy surgery to determine whether Wada memory performance could predict degree of seizure relief in children. Methods: One hundred fifty-six children (between ages 5 and 16 years) with intractable epilepsy underwent Wada testing before resective epilepsy surgery (93 within the left hemisphere, and 63 within the right hemisphere). Memory stimuli were presented soon after intracarotid amobarbital injection, and recognition memory for the items was assessed after return to neurologic baseline. Eighty-eight children underwent unilateral temporal lobe resection, and 68 had extratemporal lobe resections. One hundred four (67%) children were seizure free (Engel class I), and 52 (33%) were not seizure free (Engel classes II,IV) at follow-up (mean follow-up interval, 2.3 years). Results: Seizure-free children recalled 19.3% more Wada memory items after ipsilateral injection than did non,seizure-free children (p = 0.008). If analysis was restricted to youngsters with temporal lobectomies (TLs), seizure-free children recalled 27.7% more items after ipsilateral injection than did non,seizure-free TL children (p = 0.004). With regard to individual patient prediction, 75% of children who had memory score asymmetries consistent with the seizure focus were seizure free. In contrast, only 56% of children whose memory score asymmetries were inconsistent with the seizure focus were seizure free (p = 0.01). Conclusions: Results suggest that Wada memory performance asymmetries are related to the degree of seizure relief after epilepsy surgery in children and adolescents. [source]


    Lateralising Value of Neuropsychological Protocols for Presurgical Assessment of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

    EPILEPSIA, Issue 3 2003
    Nozomi Akanuma
    Summary: ,Purpose: To estimate the value of neuropsychological measurements in determining the side of seizure onset for presurgical assessment in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. The lateralising value of neuropsychological protocols was evaluated for all patients and in subpopulations depending on surgical outcome with regard to seizure control, speech dominance, neuropathology, and need for intracranial EEG recordings. Methods: A battery of neuropsychological procedures was carried out preoperatively in 125 patients who underwent left (n = 66) or right (n = 59) temporal lobectomies. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to find sets of variables that allowed the best prediction of the side of seizure onset (assumed to be the operated-on side). Results: Combinations of noninvasive neuropsychological tests and Wada subscores showed the highest lateralising values: 80.8% for all patients, 79.4% in seizure-free patients, 86.0% in patients not rendered seizure free, 85.7% in left speech patients, 77.8% in non,left speech patients, 89.3% in patients with mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS), 78.1% in non-MTS patients, 80.3% in patients who underwent intracranial EEG recordings, and 77.3% in those who did not. Conclusions: The lateralising value (80-90%) of neuropsychological protocols appears similar to that of other tests widely accepted for lateralisation (ictal and interictal scalp EEG and neuroimaging). Attention should be paid to neuropsychological results, particularly from the Wada test, during presurgical assessment of temporal lobe epilepsy, as they can provide strong support for findings from other lateralising tests, particularly in patients with presumed MTS or in left-speech patients. [source]


    Methodological aspects of 3D and automated 2D analyses of white matter neuronal density in temporal lobe epilepsy

    NEUROPATHOLOGY & APPLIED NEUROBIOLOGY, Issue 3 2006
    S. H. Eriksson
    White matter neuronal density has been correlated with clinical outcome after temporal lobectomy for refractory epilepsy. Both morphometric 2D (two-dimensional) and stereological 3D (three-dimensional) analyses of neuronal density have been performed. 3D analyses are thought to be more accurate than 2D counts, but more time-consuming. We compared 3D and automated 2D measurements in the same specimens. Adjacent 20-µm (for 3D analyses) and 5-µm (for 2D analyses) sections from 10 temporal lobectomies were stained for NeuN immunohistochemistry. Analysis of 100% of a region of interest (ROI) in deep white matter was performed using an image analysis system (Histometrix, Kinetic Imaging, UK). 3D analyses were undertaken using ×,63 magnification (6 h/case). Automated 2D analyses were undertaken using automatic neuronal identification at ×,10 magnification with three to four repeats (1.5 h/case). The range of neuronal densities for 3D measurements was 2120,4910 neurones/mm3, and for automated 2D measurements 17.4,47.1 neurones/mm2. There was a linear correlation between the two methods with an r2 of 0.58. The limits of agreement for the two methods were 1718 to ,2234 neurones/mm3. Count,recount variability was 1.4,9.9% for the 3D and 5.1,36.6% for the automated 2D measurements. We found a wide range of white matter neuronal densities using either analysis. The low agreement between methods, and the high count,recount variability for the automated 2D analyses, indicate that despite being more time-consuming, rigorous 3D stereological analyses have to be performed to obtain reliable results. These findings have implications for studies requiring neuronal counts in normal and disease states. [source]


    Risk factors for early post-operative psychiatric symptoms in patients undergoing epilepsy surgery for temporal lobe epilepsy

    ACTA NEUROLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 3 2009
    K. Moss
    Objective,,,De-novo psychiatric symptoms may develop within 3 months after a temporal lobectomy for epilepsy. The objective of this study was to identify presurgical risk factors for psychiatric symptoms. Methods,,, Twenty-seven patients who had a temporal lobectomy for epilepsy were included. Twenty-four had hippocampal sclerosis or gliosis, and three had cavernous haemagiomata. Twelve had operations on the left, and 15 on the right side. Twenty-four patients were rendered free of seizures (SZ) with loss of awareness, three had early post-operative convulsions, one continued to have habitual SZ. Results,,, Nine patients (33%) developed low mood, anxiety and emotional lability within 3 months after surgery. Patients with early post-operative psychiatric symptoms were younger (27.9/34.8 years, P = 0.01), and more anxious on the presurgical Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (12/8.44, P = 0.02) than patients without post-operative psychiatric symptoms. There was also an association between right temporal lobectomies and early post-surgical symptoms (P = 0.02 Fisher's exact test). Conclusion,,, Potential risk factors were age, anxiety and operation on the right side. Larger studies are required to determine if these risk factors are independent. [source]


    Presurgical lateralization of seizure focus and language dominant hemisphere with O-15 water PET imaging

    ACTA NEUROLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 2 2000
    R. Tatlidil
    Objectives, The purpose of this study was to assess the value of same day blood flow PET in both the identification of the language dominant hemisphere and in the lateralization of the epileptic focus in patients who were preoperatively evaluated for complex partial seizures. Methods, The charts of 24 patients who had temporal lobectomies for seizures were retrospectively reviewed. All PET scans were acquired by using O-15 water tracer (H215O) in both resting and language activation conditions. PET language laterality results were compared to Intracarotid amytal procedure (IAP) results. For epileptic focus lateralizations, regions of interest (ROI) analysis of temporal lobes was performed on resting scans. Results, IAP testing was discordant with PET language mapping in 1 out of 24 cases. This patient had a decline in cognitive abilities as measured by postoperative neuropsychologic testing. For epileptic focus lateralization, the PET was highly sensitive (87%) and specific (100%). Lateralizations with the PET were in agreement with surgical sites in all cases. Eighteen patients (75%) were seizure free and 4 patients (17%) were significantly improved after surgery. Conclusion, The results suggest that O-15 water PET is sensitive and specific in both the lateralization of epileptic focus and the language dominant hemisphere and can be a cost-effective and noninvasive method in presurgical evaluation of patients with complex partial seizures. [source]


    Surgery for temporal lobe epilepsy associated with mesial temporal sclerosis in the older patient: A long-term follow-up

    EPILEPSIA, Issue 6 2010
    Michael Murphy
    Summary Purpose:, To assess the outcomes from temporal lobectomy for hippocampal sclerosis in patients 50 years or older. Controversy exists as to the suitability of older patients for epilepsy surgery, with most of the previous studies demonstrating a correlation between increasing age and poor outcome. However, the inclusion of temporal lobe epilepsy of multiple etiologies has confounded many previous studies of this age group. Methods:, Twenty-one patients aged 50 years or older (mean 54.9 years) at the time of surgery were included in the study group. All patients had a pathologic diagnosis of hippocampal sclerosis. A retrospective analysis was performed comparing seizure outcomes following a standardized anterior temporal lobectomy with those from 103 patients younger than 50 (mean age 34.7 years) operated upon over the same time period. The mean follow-up period for the study was 9.57 years. Results:, Twenty of the 21 patients in the older group (95.2%) had a satisfactory seizure outcome (Engel classes I and II) compared with 90.3% of the younger patients. There was no statistically significant difference in the outcomes between the two groups (p = 0.719). Across both groups of patients combined, there was no significant difference between the mean age in the patients with a satisfactory seizure outcome compared to those with an unsatisfactory outcome (38.3 vs. 34.7 years, p = 0.213). Discussion:, Patients 50 years or older with intractable seizures from hippocampal sclerosis have seizure outcomes following temporal lobectomy that are comparable to young patients over the long term. Older patients should not be denied treatment on the basis of age. [source]


    Changes in individual and group spatial and verbal learning characteristics after anterior temporal lobectomy

    EPILEPSIA, Issue 6 2009
    Mario F. Dulay
    Summary Purpose:, To evaluate the effects of anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL) on individual and group spatial and verbal learning and memory abilities as a function of side of surgery and seizure control outcome. Methods:, We evaluated pre- and postsurgical learning and memory abilities of 75 left-hemisphere language dominant individuals who underwent ATL (33 left, 42 right) using the 8-trial Nonverbal Selective Reminding test and the 12-trial Verbal Selective Reminding test. Results:, Reliable change index methods indicated that 40.5% of individuals who underwent right-ATL had a clinically significant decline in spatial memory, and 62.5% of individuals who underwent left-ATL had a significant reduction in verbal memory. Growth curve analyses indicated that both side of surgery and poor seizure outcome independently affected the learning slope in the best fitting models. Left-ATL reduced the slope, but did not affect the overall shape, of verbal learning across trials. On the other hand, poor seizure control outcome affected the slope of spatial learning regardless of the side of surgery. Discussion:, Results demonstrate both individual and group declines in spatial memory and learning after ATL. Results suggest that individuals who undergo right-ATL should be counseled regarding the likelihood of a decline in spatial memory and learning abilities after ATL. Results also suggest that individuals with poor seizure control after ATL should be referred for rehabilitation services given the significant declines in spatial and verbal memory that occurred in our sample regardless of side of surgery. [source]


    Balloon cells and dysmorphic neurons in the hippocampus associated with epileptic amnesic syndrome: A case report

    EPILEPSIA, Issue 5 2008
    Se Hoon Kim
    Summary Recently, we encountered a 39-year-old woman with typical epileptic amnesic syndrome. The patient underwent right anterior temporal lobectomy, which removed the right hippocampus. The patient's resected hippocampus showed typical histological features of Ammon's horn sclerosis (AHS) with dysmorphic neurons. In addition, the prominent balloon cells, admixed with dysmorphic neurons, were noted in the hippocampus. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case showing AHS with balloon cells. The presence of balloon cells reinforces the hypothesis that AHS itself might be a maldevelopment disorder. [source]


    A more balanced and inclusive view of the history of temporal lobectomy

    EPILEPSIA, Issue 3 2008
    Nicholas F. Moran
    No abstract is available for this article. [source]


    One-Year Postoperative Autobiographical Memory Following Unilateral Temporal Lobectomy for Control of Intractable Epilepsy

    EPILEPSIA, Issue 3 2007
    Virginie Voltzenlogel
    Summary:,Purpose: To examine the effects of temporal lobectomy (TL), particularly concerning its lateralization. Methods: Patients completed autobiographical memory tests, preoperatively and 1-year postoperatively. Results: (a) right TL (RTL) patients recalled significantly more memories from the year after surgery than from the year before TL; (b) their pre to postoperative improvement on autobiographical memory scores was positively correlated to improvement of delayed story recall scores; and (c) 1 year after surgery, performance on recent personal memory recall was normalized for RTL patients only. Conclusion: We suggest that, in the absence of recurrent seizures, the relative integrity of the left hemisphere together with residual right hemisphere structures sustains postoperative autobiographical memory consolidation, at least 1 year postoperatively. [source]


    Memory, Emotional and Vocational Impairments before and after Anterior Temporal Lobectomy for Complex Partial Seizures

    EPILEPSIA, Issue 11 2006
    Mario F. Dulay
    Summary:,Purpose: To assess the pre- and postsurgical frequency of memory, emotional, and vocational impairments in patients who underwent anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL), and to assess the relationship between emotional disturbance and memory abilities after ATL. Methods: Retrospective analysis of data was performed on 90 patients with medically intractable complex partial seizures who underwent ATL between 1981 and 2003. Patients were evaluated an average of 5 months before surgery and 11.3 months after surgery. Results: A moderate to high frequency of memory impairment (44.4%; verbal or nonverbal), emotional disturbance (38.9%) and unemployment (27.8%) existed in the same individuals both before and after surgery. There were small to moderate rates of new onset memory (18.9%), emotional (11.1%), and vocational (7.8%) difficulties after surgery often regardless of seizure control outcome. Patients who underwent left-ATL and had emotional disturbance after surgery had the lowest verbal memory test scores. Conclusions: Results highlight the importance of taking into account emotional status when assessing memory abilities after ATL. Results replicate the finding of moderate to high frequencies of memory impairment, emotional disturbance, and unemployment both before and after ATL. Results provide support for the rationale that cognitive, psychiatric and vocational interventions are indicated to mitigate the problems that exist before and persist after ATL. [source]


    Facial Emotion Recognition after Curative Nondominant Temporal Lobectomy in Patients with Mesial Temporal Sclerosis

    EPILEPSIA, Issue 8 2006
    Shearwood McClelland III
    Summary:,Purpose: The right (nondominant) amygdala is crucial for processing facial emotion recognition (FER). Patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) associated with mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS) often incur right amygdalar damage, resulting in impaired FER if TLE onset occurred before age 6 years. Consequently, early right mesiotemporal insult has been hypothesized to impair plasticity, resulting in FER deficits, whereas damage after age 5 years results in no deficit. The authors performed this study to test this hypothesis in a uniformly seizure-free postsurgical population. Methods: Controls (n = 10), early-onset patients (n = 7), and late-onset patients (n = 5) were recruited. All patients had nondominant anteromedial temporal lobectomy (AMTL), Wada-confirmed left-hemisphere language dominance and memory support, MTS on both preoperative MRI and biopsy, and were Engel class I 5 years postoperatively. By using a standardized (Ekman and Friesen) human face series, subjects were asked to match the affect of one of two faces to that of a simultaneously presented target face. Target faces expressed fear, anger, or happiness. Results: Statistical analysis revealed that the early-onset group had significantly impaired FER (measured by percentage of faces correct) for fear (p = 0.036), whereas the FER of the late-onset group for fear was comparable to that of controls. FER for anger and happiness was comparable across all three groups. Conclusions: Despite seizure control/freedom after AMTL, early TLE onset continues to impair FER for frightened expressions (but not for angry or happy expression), whereas late TLE onset does not impair FER, with no indication that AMTL resulted in FER impairment. These results indicate that proper development of the right amygdala is necessary for optimal fear recognition, with other neural processes unable to compensate for early amygdalar damage. [source]


    Prognostic Factors for the Surgery for Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy: Longitudinal Analysis

    EPILEPSIA, Issue 8 2005
    Sang-Wuk Jeong
    Summary:,Purpose: Determining long-term prognostic factors of surgery for mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) is important for identifying ideal candidates and predicting the prognosis for individual patients. We tried to identify the prognostic factors of anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL) for MTLE with longitudinal multivariate analysis. Methods: Two hundred twenty-seven patients with MTLE were included in this study. The primary outcome variable was patient status 1,5 years after surgery: seizure free, or not. Clinical characteristics and recent diagnostic modalities were considered as prognostic factors. Univariate and standard multiple logistic-regression analysis for outcome at 1 and 5 years after surgery and the generalized estimation equation (GEE) model for longitudinal multiple logistic regression of the 5-year follow-up period were used. Results: The seizure-free rate at 1 year was 81.1% and decreased to 75.2% at 5 years after surgery. By the univariate or standard multiple logistic-regression analysis, age at surgery or hippocampal sclerosis on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) ipsilateral to surgery was significant for the postsurgical outcome. However, the longitudinal analysis by the GEE model revealed that younger age at surgery [odds ratio (OR), 0.59; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.43,0.81], absence of secondarily generalized tonic,clonic seizure (2°GTCS; OR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.26,0.79), and hippocampal sclerosis on MRI (OR, 2.44; 95% CI, 1.11,5.26) were significant predictors of a good surgical outcome. Conclusions: Age at surgery, presence of 2°GTCS, and hippocampal sclerosis on MRI are independent prognostic factors for ATL in MTLE. These findings suggest that MTLE is a progressive disorder, and surgical outcome is better when early ATL is performed. [source]


    Functional MRI Predicts Memory Performance after Right Mesiotemporal Epilepsy Surgery

    EPILEPSIA, Issue 2 2005
    Jozsef Janszky
    Summary:,Purpose: Anterior temporal lobe resection (ATR) is a treatment option in drug-resistant epilepsy. An important risk of ATR is loss of memory because mesiotemporal structures contribute substantially to memory function. We investigated whether memory-activated functional MRI (fMRI) can predict postoperative memory loss after anterior temporal lobectomy in right-sided medial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE). Methods: We included 16 patients (10 women) aged 16,54 years. The mean age at epilepsy onset was 12.5 years (range, 1,26 years). The patients' mean Wechsler IQ score was 95.2 (range, 62,125). The activation condition of fMRI consisted of retrieval from long-term memory induced by self-paced performance of an imaginative walk. All but one patient had left-sided speech dominance according to speech-activated fMRI. Outside the scanner, we evaluated the pre- and postoperative visual memory retention by using Rey Visual Design Learning Test. Results: We found a correlation between the preoperative asymmetry index of memory- fMRI and the change between pre- and postsurgical measures of memory retention. Reduced activation of the mesiotemporal region ipsilateral to the epileptogenic region correlated with a favorable memory outcome after right-sided ATR. Conclusions: In light of the postoperative results, the theoretical implication of our study is that fMRI based on a simple introspective retrieval task measures memory functions. The main clinical implication of our study is that memory- fMRI might replace the invasive Wada test in MTLE by using a simple fMRI paradigm. Predictive power, however, will be studied in larger patient samples. Other studies are required for left-sided MTLE and neocortical epilepsies to assess the clinical usefulness of memory- fMRI. [source]


    Seizure Outcome after Temporal Lobectomy in Temporal Lobe Cortical Dysplasia

    EPILEPSIA, Issue 11 2003
    Teeradej Srikijvilaikul
    Summary:,Purpose: To identify the temporal lobe cortical dysplasia (CD) histopathology classification subtype and determine the seizure outcome of patients who underwent temporal lobectomy with coincident CD. Methods: We reviewed the data of 28 patients with temporal lobe epilepsy who underwent surgery with pathologically verified CD at our institution from 1990 to 2000. The seizure outcome was assessed at a minimum of 1 year after surgery according to Engel's classification. Results: Of 28 patients who underwent surgery, nine (32.1%) had isolated CD, and 19 (67.9%) had CD and hippocampal sclerosis (CD&HS). Twenty-six (92.9%) patients had histopathology subtype Ia (architectural abnormalities). Twenty (71.4%) patients were seizure free (Engel class I). Favorable seizure outcome (Engel class I, II) was achieved in 26 (92.9%) patients. No difference in seizure outcome was noted between patients with CD and CD&HS. Conclusions: The most common histopathologic subtype in patients with temporal lobe CD is type Ia (architectural abnormalities). Temporal lobectomy in temporal lobe epilepsy patients with CD can achieve favorable seizure outcome. [source]


    Seizure Outcome after Temporal Lobectomy: Current Research Practice and Findings

    EPILEPSIA, Issue 10 2001
    A. M. McIntosh
    Summary: ,Purpose: The literature regarding seizure outcome and prognostic factors for outcome after temporal lobectomy is often contradictory. This is problematic, as these data are the basis on which surgical decisions and counseling are founded. We sought to clarify inconsistencies in the literature by critically examining the methods and findings of recent research. Methods: A systematic review of the 126 articles concerning temporal lobectomy outcome published from 1991 was conducted. Results: Major methodologic issues in the literature were heterogeneous definitions of seizure outcome, a predominance of cross-sectional analyses (83% of studies), and relatively short follow-up in many studies. The range of seizure freedom was wide (33,93%; median, 70%); there was a tendency for better outcome in more recent studies. Of 63 factors analyzed, good outcome appeared to be associated with several factors including preoperative hippocampal sclerosis, anterior temporal localization of interictal epileptiform activity, absence of preoperative generalized seizures, and absence of seizures in the first postoperative week. A number of factors had no association with outcome (e.g., age at onset, preoperative seizure frequency, and extent of lateral resection). Conclusions: Apparently conflicting results in the literature may be explained by the methodologic issues identified here (e.g., sample size, selection criteria and method of analysis). To obtain a better understanding of patterns of long-term outcome, increased emphasis on longitudinal analytic methods is required. The systematic review of possible risk factors for seizure recurrence provides a basis for planning further research. [source]


    Prognostic Implication of Contralateral Secondary Electrographic Seizures in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

    EPILEPSIA, Issue 11 2000
    Ki Hyeong Lee
    Summary: Purpose: Interhemispheric propagation of seizures in temporal lobe epilepsy is frequently noted during intracranial EEG monitoring. We hypothesized that a distinct secondary electrographic seizure (DSES) in the temporal lobe contralateral to primary seizure onset may be an unfavorable prognostic indicator. Methods: We reviewed intracranial depth electrode EEG recordings, 1-year outcome, and medical records of 51 patients (M 29, F 22: age 15,64 years) who underwent anterior temporal lobectomy during 1988,96. We defined DSES as a seizure that spread to the contralateral temporal lobe and produced distinct contralateral EEG features. The distinct feature was focal involvement of one or two electrode contacts at onset, which starts and evolves independently from the ipsilateral temporal lobe. We considered DSES as the predominant seizure pattern when it occurred in more than one half of the patients' recorded seizures. Results: Only nine of 19 (47%) patients with predominant DSES had a 1-year seizure-free outcome, whereas 27 of 32 (84%) patients without predominant DSES had a 1-year seizure-free outcome (p <0.01). Bitemporal independent seizures were more common in patients with predominant DSES (9/19 versus 0/32; p <0.001). Conclusion: Our results suggest that distinct contralateral secondary electrographic seizure is a predictor of unfavorable outcome and is also more likely to be associated with bitemporal seizures. [source]


    Language-Related Potentials in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Before and After Surgical Treatment

    EPILEPSIA, Issue 2000
    Toshihiko Ito
    Purpose: Temporal lobectomy has contributed to treatment for medically intractable epilepsies. However, influence of the surgical treatment on cognitive function is not still clear, especially from the electrophysiological viewpoint. N400, an event related potential (ERP) named for its negative polarity and peak latency of 400 ms, is reported to be an electrophysiological sign of neural activities associated with semantic priming in language perception. In the present study, ERPs are applied to evaluate the cognitive function of temporal lobe epilepsy before and after temporal lobectomy. Methods: Two patients with intractable temporal lobe epilepsy participated in this study. Fifteen normal subjects served as controls. The incongruous sentence task (Kutas and Hillyard 1980) was used to record N400 components in an auditory modality. Two types of sentences (40 Japanese sentences for each type) were prepared, in which the terminal words were either semantically congruent or incongruent. The scntences were randomly presented at approximately 65 dB SPL peak intensity. ERPs were recorded according to the international 10,20 system, with a balanced non-cephalic electrode reference and 2 1 channels. The band-pass filter was set from 0.5 to 30 Hz, and the ERPs were sampled at 500 Hz from 200 ms before the onset of terminal words to 824 ms post-stimulus. Waves were calculated by subtracting ERPs in the congruent condition from those in the incongruent condition. N400 was scored as the most negative point between 250 and 450 ms in the subtraction waves. Amplitudes were measured from the baseline of 100 ms before the terminal words. Motor responses were also measured with a right index finger, to estimate the accuracy of understanding sentences. Results: Case I was a 22-year-old male who had intractable epilepsy for 7 years. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed high-intensity signals in the right amygdalo-hippocampal region. The epileptic seizures were confirmed to originate from the region hy electroencephalography/closed-circuit television monitoring, and single-photon-emission computed tomography. ERPs were recorded I month before and after the right anterior temporal lobectomy. Before the surgery, the rate of correct responses showed no difference between the patient (96 %) and the controls (96 %). The amplitudes of N400 for the patient reduced in the right frontal and central areas (F4, C4), comparing to 99 % confidence limit for control subjects. After the surgery, the rate of correct responses was 97 %, and the amplitudes reduced in the right central, parietal, and posterior temporal areas (C4, P4, 0 2, T6). Case 2 (37-year-old female) had intractable epilepsy for 30 years. MRI showed brain atrophy in the right hippocampal region. The epileptic seizures were confirmed to originate from the region. N400 was recorded 3 months after the resection. The rate of correct responses was 95 %. The amplitudes of N400 were lower in the right frontal, parietal, and temporal areas (electrodes Fp2, F4, P4, T6, Pz), comparing to 99 % confidence limit of controls. Conclusions: Before the lpbectomy, the reduction of amplitudes of N400 indicated that the pathogenesis of intractable temporal lobe epilepsy would influence the process of semantic priming in language perception. After the resection, it was suggested that the right temporal lobectomy might affect the cognitive function in the brain from electrophysiological aspects. We could benefit from further study including analysis of the discrepancy between the amplitudes of N400 and behavioral responses. [source]