Selective amygdalohippocampectomy versus standard temporal lobectomy in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy and unilateral hippocampal sclerosis.

Several studies have demonstrated the positive effect of resective epilepsy surgery in drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). However, it is still a matter of debate whether selective amygdalohippocampectomy (SAH) or standard temporal lobectomy (STL) are the most effective approaches concerning seizure outcome, quality of life and memory. In each of the two centers participating in this study either SAH or STL was the neurosurgical standard procedure irrespective of contextual aspects. Thus, with this postoperative assessment of resected patients we sought to avoid any selection bias that usually impaired comparative trials of both surgical approaches. We finally identified and studied 95 adult patients who had undergone either SAH (n=46) or STL (n=49) between 1999 and 2009 and fulfilled the inclusion criteria, namely drug-resistant unilateral mesial TLE with hippocampal sclerosis without any further structural lesions. We assessed the postoperative seizure outcome according to the ILAE criteria and postoperative quality of life by means of standardized questionnaires. Finally, we compared postoperative neuropsychological performance in 60 completely seizure-free patients (n=27 after SAH, n=33 after STL) prior to, one year after surgery and at a long-term follow-up with a mean of seven years. 78.2% of SAH and 85.7% of STL were seizure-free at the last observation. Quality of life had improved in 95.6% of the SAH patients and 89.8% of the STL patients. These differences were not statistically significant. Left-sided TLE patients had a significantly worse verbal memory outcome irrespective of the surgical method. However, SAH patients had a significantly better outcome concerning visual encoding, verbal and visual short-term memory and visual working memory. In this study, seizure outcome and quality of life did not differ depending on the surgical approach. However, a more selective resection led to better neuropsychological performances.

Visuoperceptual and visuospatial abilities prior to and after anterior temporal lobectomy: a case study.

We describe a patient who presented with temporal lobe epilepsy and a seizure onset pattern in the right temporo-occipital area. Structural MRI revealed sclerosis in the right hippocampus. A comprehensive presurgical neuropsychological assessment allowed us to disentangle deficits in visual object recognition and visual imagery from well-preserved spatial capacities. Following a right temporal lobectomy, the patient remained seizure free, and 1 year postsurgery, the patient's scores on object recognition and imagery were in the normal range. Our findings suggest that visual object recognition and visual imagery are sustained by cortical areas located in proximity to the temporo-occipital ventral pathway and that perceptual and imagery spatial processing is subserved as well by anatomically close mechanisms. Furthermore, the results seem to indicate that nonlesional paroxysmal activity in the posterior temporal lobe can cause chronic dysfunctions of the visual system and that it may be reversible with effective seizure control.

Hyperkinetic seizures in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy: clinical features and outcome after temporal lobe resection.

PURPOSE: Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is usually associated with automatisms. Hyperkinetic seizures are supposed to be unusual. Because we witnessed several patients with TLE and ictal hyperkinetic symptoms, we retrospectively assessed the number, clinical findings, and seizure outcome in such patients who had undergone temporal lobe resection. METHODS: We reviewed medical history, video-electroencephalography (EEG) recording and neuroimaging of adult patients who underwent epilepsy surgery for TLE at the Kork Epilepsy Center over the last 20 years with a minimum postoperative follow-up of 12 months. KEY FINDINGS: Among 294 patients who were resected exclusively in the temporal region, we identified 17 (6%) who presented with hyperkinetic semiology such as violent vocalization, complex movements of the proximal segments of the limbs, rotation of the trunk, pelvic thrusting, or early tonic or dystonic posturing. Most of the patients had a preceding aura. Ictal EEG activity was located in the corresponding temporal region, usually with a wide distribution over temporal electrodes with fast spread to unilateral frontal electrodes and to the contralateral side. Neuroimaging revealed extended lesions in the temporal lobe involving mesial and neocortical structures. Most of the patients underwent classical anterior temporal lobe resection including amygdalo-hippocampectomy. Fourteen patients (82%) became completely seizure-free (Engel class Ia). Histopathology showed mainly focal cortical dysplasia plus hippocampal sclerosis. SIGNIFICANCE: Hyperkinetic seizure semiology may occasionally occur in patients with TLE and is, therefore, no contradiction to the hypothesis of TLE if scalp EEG patterns and neuroimaging findings correspond. The postoperative seizure outcome is favorable in such patients and not different from outcome data in classical TLE.

Chronic high-frequency deep-brain stimulation in progressive myoclonic epilepsy in adulthood--report of five cases.

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy and tolerability of chronic high-frequency deep brain stimulation (DBS) in adult patients with progressive myoclonic epilepsy (PME) syndromes. METHODS: Five adult patients (four male, 28-39 years) with PME underwent chronic high-frequency DBS according to a study protocol that had been approved by the local ethics committee. Electrodes were implanted in the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr)/subthalamic nucleus (STN) region in the first patient and additionally in the ventral intermediate nucleus (VIM) bilaterally in the following four cases. Follow-up took place in intervals of 3 months and DBS effects were compared with baseline frequency of passive and activation-induced myoclonic jerks and daily life performance 8 weeks prior to implantation. KEY FINDINGS: Follow-up periods ranged from 12-42 months (median 24 months). The best clinical effects were seen with SNr/STN DBS in all patients. VIM stimulation failed to achieve acute therapeutic effects and revealed low side-effect thresholds and even triggering of myoclonia. In all patients the reduction of myoclonic seizures was observed and ranged between 30% and 100% as quantified by a standardized video protocol. All patients reported clinically relevant improvements of various capabilities such as free standing and walking or improved fine motor skills. In one patient with an excellent initial response generalized tonic-clonic seizures increased after 3 months of stimulation following extensive trauma-related surgery. The best effect was seen in the least impaired patient. SIGNIFICANCE: DBS of the SNr/STN may be an effective treatment option for patients with PME. Less impaired patients may benefit more markedly.

Functional hemispherectomy in adults with intractable epilepsy syndromes: a report of 4 cases.

BACKGROUND: Functional hemispherectomy (FH) is mainly performed in children with catastrophic epilepsies and pre-existing severe hemiparesis. It is accepted that mainly patients at young ages with more or less complete loss of their hand function are suitable candidates for FH. However, we feel that FH should be considered also in some adults with devastating unilateral epilepsy syndromes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We report four cases of adults who underwent FH because of their intractable epilepsy syndromes. Three of the four patients had reduced but not complete loss of hand function. Careful weighing-up of the risk-benefit ratio still led to the decision to perform FH in order to achieve complete seizure relief. RESULTS: All patients had a surgical outcome of Engel class I; one of them suffered from post-operative psychogenic non-epileptic seizures which were treated successfully by psychotherapy. No clinically relevant complications occurred. CONCLUSION: We wish to point out that FH is a possible surgical option in cases with catastrophic epilepsies in adulthood. Patients and relatives should strongly consider that the likelihood of at least partially, impaired hand function or other surgery-related additional handicaps may be outweighed by the chance of freedom of seizures in a limited number of patients. In all of our cases, patients and relatives agreed that the surgical outcome led to a marked improvement of quality of life and that it had been the right decision to proceed with FH in spite of the expected negative impacts of the operation. Video examples of the pre- and post-surgical hand function of one sample patient are enclosed.