Apical temporal lobe resection; "tailored" hippocampus-sparing resection based on presurgical evaluation data.

BACKGROUND: It is the aim of epilepsy surgery in patients with lesional epilepsy for the surgeon to not only remove the lesion itself, but also the epileptogenic zone. Here, we report our experience with a modified temporal resection technique confined to the apical temporal lobe, i.e., sparing the hippocampal formation in patients with epileptogenic lesions in the anterior part of the temporal lobe. This apical temporal lobe resection (aTLR) includes tailored lesionectomy, amygdalectomy, and resection of the mesial structures only in the apex of the temporal lobe. This paper presents our surgical technical details and the outcome of aTLR. METHODS: Between 2001 and 2008, aTLR was performed in 61 patients. All patients underwent comprehensive presurgical evaluation including video-EEG monitoring, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and neuropsychological testing. All patients had a lesion in the apex of the temporal lobe and a normal hippocampus as seen in MRI, as well as intact memory functions in neuropsychological examination. There were 33 males (54.1%) and 28 females (45.9%). The mean age in years at epilepsy onset was 20.2 ± 13.4, the mean age at epilepsy surgery was 32.1 ± 11.9, the mean preoperative epilepsy duration was 11.8 ± 8.8 years and the mean duration of follow-up was 2.1 ± 1.3 years (range 0.5-6 years). RESULTS: Fifty-four (88.5%) of 61 patients were in Engel Class 1 at 6 months, 38 (80.9%) of 47 at 2 years and nine (81.8%) of 11 at the 5 year follow-up. Histopathological examination showed tumors in 31 patients, FCD in ten patients, amygdala sclerosis in seven patients, cavernomas in six patients, unspecific reactions in eight patients, and gliosis in one patient. Surgical complications occurred in four patients: one had a permanent and three had transient complications which could be successfully treated. Fifty (82%) resections were considered to be complete resections as evaluated by serial postoperative MRI, seven patients (11.5%) had incomplete resection of the preoperative MRI lesion and in four patients (6.6%) it remained unclear. Fifteen patients (29.4%) were withdrawn from antiepileptic drugs for more than 2 years without relapse. Postoperative neuropsychological examination revealed worsening of memory performance in two patients (3.2%) and improved or no changes in the rest of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Apical temporal resection sparing the mesial temporal structures is an effective procedure with good long-term seizure outcome in patients with refractory epilepsy due to lesions confined to the apex of the temporal lobe.

Intraparenchymal meningioma mimicking cavernous malformation: a case report and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: A primary intraparenchymal meningioma located in the subcortical region of the brain without a dural attachment is extremely rare. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report showing that meningioma can mimic cavernous malformations. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 42-year-old German man who presented to our institution with seizure. Both computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scans showed characters of an intra-axial subcortical lesion with a 'popcorn' appearance and hemosiderin deposits in the right parietal lobe. The initial diagnosis was cavernous malformation. Intraoperatively, the lesion presented as a subcortical mass that had no connection to the dura or the ventricle. The histological diagnosis showed a WHO Grade 1 'raddled' psammomatous meningioma with extensive metaplastic ossification. A literature review of 29 cases of intraparenchymal meningiomas regarding their clinical presentations, location and management was performed. CONCLUSIONS: Meningiomas can be found in any region of the brain with and without dural attachment. Intraparenchymal meningiomas can have multiple entities mimicking their presentation. Caution must be used regarding the preoperative differential diagnosis.

Long term outcome in patients not initially seizure free after resective epilepsy surgery.

PURPOSE: To assess the long-term seizure outcome and find predictors of outcome for patients who were not initially seizure free 6 months after epilepsy surgery. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all adult patients who underwent epilepsy surgery at the Epilepsy Center Bethel, between 1992 and 2003. There were 266 patients included in this analysis. RESULTS: Of the 266 patients who were included in this study, the probability of becoming seizure free was 12% (95%CI 8-16%) after 2 years, 19.5% (95%CI 15-24%) after 5 years and 34.7% (95%CI 28-41%) after 10 years. In patients who had auras only, the probability of being seizure free was 18.2% after 2 years, 25.5% after 5 years, and 39.1% after 10 years. In the multiregression analysis, the EEG carried out 2 years after surgery, a psychic aura, the frequency of postoperative focal seizures and hypermotor seizures predicted seizure remission in the long-term outcome. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency and type of postoperative seizures are critical determinants for long-term outcome. Seizure semiology may be the clue to a precise diagnosis and long-term prognosis of epilepsy.

Long-term outcome and determinants of quality of life after temporal lobe epilepsy surgery in adults.

AIM OF THE STUDY: To find determinants of quality of life (QOL) in long-term follow-up after temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) surgery in adults. METHODS: The QOLIE-31 questionnaire was sent to 400 of 524 patients who were operated on for refractory TLE between 1991 and 2003 in the Bethel Epilepsy Centre fulfilling the inclusion criteria of this study. Mainly patients with severe cognitive deficits and patients with progressive brain disorders were excluded. There were 222/400 patients who replied to the QOLIE-31 questionnaire and 147/222 of these patients replied to an additional questionnaire. RESULTS: Univariate analyses showed that seizure freedom, presence of auras, intake of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), severity of AED side effects, and driving a car were significantly correlated with all subscales of QOLIE-31. Furthermore, employment status, psychiatric problems, tumors and hippocampus sclerosis pathology, the presence of a partner, age at reply, age at surgery and medical co-morbidities were significantly correlated with some subscales of the QOLIE-31. Multivariate analyses (stepwise regression analyses) revealed that especially the time since the last seizure and the severity of AED side effects had a strong impact on QOL. However, aura at last follow-up, psychiatric treatment and employment were seen in the multivariate analyses as significant predictors of some QOL subscales as well. Most subscales of QOL showed a steep, non-linear increase within the first years of seizure freedom and remained relatively stable except for cognitive function which showed continuous improvement parallel to seizure freedom. For patients who were seizure free since surgery, side effects of AED and/or psychiatric treatment were the strongest determinants of QOL. CONCLUSION: Duration of seizure freedom and AED side effects have the strongest impact on QOL in the long-term follow-up. Therefore it is important not only to register intake of AEDs but also to assess side effects of AEDs. Persistence of auras also had an impact on different facets of QOL, but was significantly correlated with intake of AEDs. Apart from factors directly related to epilepsy QOL was dependent of psychosocial factors as employment status, psychiatric complications, and driving a car underlining the necessity of postoperative rehabilitation in this group.