BACKGROUNDBipolar electro-coagulation has a reported efficacy in treating epilepsy involving functional cortex by pure electro-coagulation or combination with resection. However, the mechanisms of bipolar electro-coagulation are not completely known. We studied the acute cortical blood flow and histological changes after bipolar electro-coagulation in 24 patients with intractable temporal lobe epilepsy.

METHODSTwenty-four patients were consecutively enrolled, and divided into three groups according to the date of admission. The regional cortical blood flow (rCBF), electrocorticography, the depth of cortex damage, and acute histological changes (H and E staining, neuronal staining and neurofilament (NF) staining) were analyzed before and after the operation. The t-test analysis was used to compare the rCBF before and after the operation.

RESULTSThe rCBF after coagulation was significantly reduced (P < 0.05). The spikes were significantly reduced after electro-coagulation. For the temporal cortex, the depth of cortical damage with output power of 2-9 W after electro-coagulation was 0.34 ± 0.03, 0.48 ± 0.06, 0.69 ± 0.06, 0.84 ± 0.09, 0.98 ± 0.08, 1.10 ± 0.11, 1.11 ± 0.09, and 1.22 ± 0.11 mm, respectively. Coagulation with output power of 4-5 W completely damaged the neurons and NF protein in the molecular layer, external granular layer, and external pyramidal layer.

CONCLUSIONSThe electro-coagulation not only destroyed the neurons and NF protein, but also reduced the rCBF. We concluded that the injuries caused by electro-coagulation would prevent horizontal synchronization and spread of epileptic discharges, and partially destroy the epileptic focus.

Adult ; Electrocoagulation ; methods ; Epilepsy ; surgery ; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Temporal Lobe ; surgery ; Young Adult

Temporal lobe epilepsy, with a variety of etiological, symptomatic, electrophysiological characteristics, has the highest incidence among all focal epilepsy, and a high rate of progression to refractory epilepsy. Surgery is an effective treatment, but traditional methods are usually difficult to accurately locate the epileptogenic zone, which may be resolved by stereotactic-electroencephalogram(SEEG) technique. Radiofrequency thermocoagulation and MRI-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy based on SEEG provide a new accurate and minimally invasive choice for refractory epilepsy patients with high surgical risk and difficulty.
Drug Resistant Epilepsy/surgery* ; Electrocoagulation/methods* ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe/surgery* ; Humans ; Stereotaxic Techniques

BACKGROUND: Patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) originating from different seizure onset zones had distinct electrophysiological characteristics and surgical outcomes. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between the origin and prognosis of TLE, and the stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) features. METHODS: Thirty patients with TLE, who underwent surgical treatment in our functional neurosurgery department from January 2016 to December 2017, were enrolled in this study. All patients underwent anterior temporal lobectomy after an invasive pre-operative evaluation with SEEG. Depending on the epileptic focus location, patients were divided into those with medial temporal lobe seizures (MTLS) and those with lateral temporal lobe seizures (LTLS). The Engel classification was used to evaluate operation effectiveness, and the Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to detect seizure-free duration. RESULTS: The mean follow-up time was 25.7 ± 4.8 months. Effectiveness was 63.3% for Engel I (n = 19), 13.3% for Engel II, 3.3% for Engel III, and 20.0% for Engel IV. According to the SEEG, 60.0% (n = 18) had MTLS, and 40.0% (n = 12) had LTLS. Compared with the MTLS group, the operation age of those with LTLS was significantly greater (26.9 ± 6.9 vs. 29.9 ± 12.5 years, t = -0.840, P = 0.009) with longer epilepsy duration (11.9 ± 6.0 vs. 17.9 ± 12.1 years, t = -1.801, P = 0.038). Patients with MTLS had a longer time interval between ictal onset to seizure (67.3 ± 59.1 s vs. 29.3 ± 24.4 s, t = 2.017, P = 0.008). The most common SEEG ictal pattern was a sharp/spike-wave rhythm in the MTLS group (55.6%) and low-voltage fast activity in the LTLS group (58.3%). Compared with the LTLS group, patients with MTLS had a more favorable prognosis (41.7% vs. 77.8%, P = 0.049). Post-operative recurrence was more likely to occur within three months after the operation for both groups, and there appeared to be a stable long-term outcome. CONCLUSION Patients with MTLS, who accounted for three-fifths of patients with TLE, showed a more favorable surgical outcome.
Anterior Temporal Lobectomy ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe/surgery* ; Humans ; Stereotaxic Techniques ; Treatment Outcome

Refractory gelastic seizure is one of the most common clinical manifestations in patients with hypothalamic hamartoma (HH) and HH is usually regarded as the epileptogenic focus. A young female patient with a small HH and refractory seizures is reported here. However, both the seizure semiology and results of electroencephalogram monitoring indicated the right temporal region was the epileptogenic focus. Thus a standard right anterior temporal lobectomy was performed while the hamartoma preserved. There was a marked improvement in both seizure frequency and quality of life during a 13-month follow-up. The outcome supported the concept that independent epileptogenic focus outside of the hypothalamus might occur in patients with HH.
Adult ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Female ; Hamartoma ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Humans ; Hypothalamic Diseases ; diagnosis ; surgery

BACKGROUNDAnterior temporal lobectomy (ATL) is the most common surgical treatment for temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), although long-term prognosis is often less favorable than short-term outcomes. This study aimed to examine the outcomes of patients with TLE 5 years after undergoing ATL, and to seek possible predictors of prognosis.

METHODSWe examined the clinical records of 121 patients with TLE who underwent ATL in our institution between January 2005 and December 2008. The Engel seizure classification was used to divide patients into "seizure free" and "non-seizure free" groups. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analyses were used to identify potential prognostic indicators, including history, clinical features of seizures, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and video-electroencephalography (EEG) findings.

RESULTSThe majority of patients were seizure free during the follow-up period: 71.9% 1 year after surgery; 71.6% after 2 years; 75.8% after 3 years; 78.8% after 4 years after surgery and 68.8% after 5 years. There were significant differences between seizure-free and non-seizure-free groups in terms of preoperative seizure duration, history of febrile seizures, type of seizure, and MRI and video-EEG findings (P < 0.05), but not in terms of sex, age at seizure onset, age at surgery, side of surgery, auras, family history of seizure, or history of traumatic brain injury, perinatal anoxia or intracranial infection history (P > 0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that a preoperative seizure duration <10 years, a history of febrile seizures, simple complex partial seizures, positive MRI findings, hippocampal sclerosis and unilateral localized video-EEG spikes predicted better outcome (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSATL appears to be an effective means of treating TLE. Patients undergoing ATL for TLE require careful and comprehensive assessment to ensure optimal outcomes and to allow patients to make informed decisions about their treatment.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anterior Temporal Lobectomy ; standards ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Temporal Lobe ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Humans ; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe/surgery* ; Mossy Fibers, Hippocampal ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; Dentate Gyrus

OBJECTIVETo discuss the presurgical evaluation and surgical treatment of lesional temporal lobe epilepsy (LTLE).

METHODSWe retrospectively studied the patients whose MRI or CT showed lesions on one of the temporal lobes among patients who underwent epilepsy surgeries in our institute. All patients were divided into satisfactory and unsatisfactory group according to outcomes after operation. The characteristics of the lesions, neurophysiological features and results of pathologies were analyzed statistically.

RESULTFavorable surgical outcome was obtained in 24 patients, the satisfactory rate was 75%. The lesions of 17 patients were cortical malformations and the satisfactory rate of this group was 65%, which was less favorable than that of tumor group, (87%). 21 patients with their lesions located within the border of standard temporal lobectomy, had better surgical outcome than the others whose lesions were beyond the border (P<0.05). The satisfactory rate of 8 patients with lesions located within mesial structure of temporal lobe was no different compared with that of the others who had lesions outside the mesial structure (P>0.05). There were 19 patients who had consistency of the location of the lesion on MRI with the focal interictal epileptiform discharges on scalp EEG in satisfactory group, while there were only 3 patients in unsatisfactory group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONFor a LTLE patient, epilepsy surgery should be the first choice to be considered. Careful presurgical studies of the lesion, including its location, pathological property and neurophysiological characteristics, were very helpful for improving the surgical outcome.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Psychosurgery ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Temporal Lobe ; pathology ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of long-term video-electroencephalography (VEEG) monitoring and intracranial electrode EEG monitoring in the surgical treatment of temporal lobe epilepsy. METHODS: We compared the preoperative long-term VEEG and intraoperative intracranial electrode EEG in 44 patients undergoing surgical treatment of temporal lobe epilepsy. RESULTS: The 44 patients were followed up for 1 to 5 years. The clinical attack was controlled completely in 36 patients (81.8%), the time of clinical attack was decreased significantly in 6 patients (13.6%), 2 patients (4.5%) still had epileptic seizure, but the degree was relieved and the seizure time shortened. The nerve psychological function was improved to different extent in 40 patients (90.9%). CONCLUSION Preoperative long-term VEEG and intraoperative intracranial electrode EEG are accurate in the localization of the focus, which is important in the surgical treatment of temporal lobe epilepsy.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Anterior Temporal Lobectomy ; methods ; Child ; Electrodes, Implanted ; Electroencephalography ; methods ; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Monitoring, Intraoperative ; methods ; Video Recording ; Young Adult

To investigate the epileptogenic foci in dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor (DNT) in the temporal lobe, we studied extraoperative electrocorticography (ECoG) with subdural electrode arrays from nine patients with intractable epilepsy due to temporal DNT. Ictal onset zones and irritative zones were decided by the ECoG. The locations of these zones were compared to the location of the tumor. The number of ictal onset zone and irritative zone was 2.1+/-0.93 and 2.9+/-.45 in a patient with a DNT. They were detected more frequently in the adjacent tissues of the tumor (88.9%) rather than within the tumor or in mesial temporal area (66.7%). Mesial temporal involvement was found in 6 patients (66.7%) as an ictal onset zone, and in 5 (55.6%) as an irritative zone. The 7 patients (77.8%) had ictal onset zone in areas different from active irritative zone. The surgical outcome was better, when ictal onset zone was completely resected rather than partially removed. Temporal DNT can make multiple ictal onset zones and irritative zones in different regions including the mesial temporal area. Deliberate resection of epileptogenic foci, including all ictal onset zones and irritative zones, ensures excellent seizure control.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Brain/pathology ; Brain Neoplasms/*complications/surgery ; Child ; Electroencephalography/*methods ; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe/*etiology/*pathology/surgery ; Female ; Human ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Models, Anatomic ; Neoplasms, Neuroepithelial/*complications/surgery ; Subdural Space ; Temporal Lobe/pathology ; Time Factors

BACKGROUNDThe aim of this study is to explore the treatment and outcome of epileptogenic temporal lobe cavernous malformations (CMs).

METHODSWe analyzed retrospectively the profiles of 52 patients diagnosed as temporal lobe CMs associated with epilepsy. Among the 52 cases, 11 underwent a direct resection of CM along with the adjacent zone of hemosiderin rim without electrocorticogram (ECoG) monitoring while the other 41 cases had operations under the guidance of ECoG. Forty-six patients were treated by lesionectomy + hemosiderin rim while the other six were treated by lesionectomy + hemosiderin rim along with extended epileptogenic zone resection. The locations of lesions, the duration of illness, the manifestation, the excision ranges and the outcomes of postoperative follow-up were analyzed, respectively.

RESULTSAll of the 52 patients were treated by microsurgery. There was no neurological deficit through the long-term follow-up. Outcomes of seizure control are as follows: 42 patients (80.8%) belong to Engel Class I, 5 patients (9.6%) belong to Engel Class II, 3 patients (5.8%) belong to Engel Class III and 2 patients (3.8%) belong to Engel Class IV.

CONCLUSIONPatients with epilepsy caused by temporal CMs should be treated as early as possible. Resection of the lesion and the surrounding hemosiderin zone is necessary. Moreover, an extended excision of epileptogenic cortex or cerebral lobes is needed to achieve a better prognosis if the ECoG indicates the existence of an extra epilepsy onset origin outside the lesion itself.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy ; surgery ; Female ; Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Temporal Lobe ; pathology ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult