Temporal lobe epilepsy is characterized by complex partial seizures with either primary intracranial neoplasms or other non-neoplastic lesions. We reviewed 64 cases of surgically resected temporal lobes and amygdalo-hippocampal regions for temporal lobe epilepsy ansed by non-neoplastic lesions to elucidate the incidence and histologic features of each histologic group for a period of 2 years. The patient's age ranged from 12 to 49 years and the ratio of male to female was 42:22. There were 37 cases(57.8%) with single pathology and an additional 20 cases(31.3%) with dual pathology. The emaining 7 cases(10.9%) had no structural alternations. The most common temporal lobe pathology was hippocampal sclerosis in 41 cases(64.1%), diagnosed alone in 21 cases and as dual lesions in 20 cases. The hippocampal neuron loss was most pro,omemt in CA1, followed by CA4, CA3, and CA2. Amygdaloid sclerosis was present in 28 cases(43.8%), lases had 13 dual lesions, 25 cases also had hippocampal sclerosis. The 20 dual lesions showed that 6 cortical dysplasia, 10 microdysgenesis, 1 chronic non-specific inflammatory lesion, and 3 cysticercosis were associated with the various degree of mesial temporal sclerosis. Neuronoglial malformative lesions were identified in 21 cases(32.8%) including 16 dual lesion cases, which composed of 15 microdysgenesis and 6 cortical dysplasia. Neurofilament immunostain for cortical dysplasia revealed abnormally beaded disarray of axons in dysplastic pyramidal cells. The remaining pathologic lesions observed were 1 cysticercosis, 1 chronic non-specific inflammatory lesion, 3 arteriovenous malformation, 2 fibrous nodule, and 1 fibrous adhesions of the arachnoid.
Female ; Male ; Humans ; Incidence

BACKGROUNDS: To examine the effects of seizure laterality and stimulus type on Wada memory performance in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy(TLE). METHODS: The subjects were 43 patients with medically intractable TLE (left TLE 26, Right TLE 17) who had no or rare seizures after surgery. The memory stimuli were concrete figures for some subjects and abstract figures for the other subjects. RESULTS: A clinical criterion of at least 2-points difference between left and right injections correctly classified 31(72%) patients into left and right TLE groups, with 4(9%) patients falsely classified. A discriminant function analysis(DFA) based on left and right injection scores allowed for a correct classification of 37(86%) patients into left and right TLE groups. When the memory stimuli were concrete figures, the correct classification rate was greater for right than left TLE patients. In contrast, with abstract figures, the correct classification rate was greater for left than right TLE patients. CONCLUSIONS: The Wada memory test is a valuable diagnostic aid in lateralizing temporal epileptogenic foci. Stimulus type as well as seizure lateralization is a major determinant of Wada memory asymmetries.
Amobarbital* ; Classification ; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe ; Humans ; Memory* ; Seizures ; Temporal Lobe*

BACKGROUND: The clinical and electroencephalographic differentiation of the mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) and neocortical temporal lobe epilepsy (NTLE) may have a practical value. Until now, a few comparative studies reported some relatively minor differences between the two groups. We investigated the clinical history, interictal and ictal electroencephalographic (EEG) patterns to differentiate NTLE from MTLE. METHODS: Twenty two patients with medically refractory MTLE and fourteen patients with isolated neocortical lesions were recruited. The interictal and ictal scalp EEG patterns were compared in terms of the interictal EEG distribution patterns of epileptiform discharges, focal slow waves (ipsilateral/contralateral refers to side of pathology), and the frequencies of ictal discharges on EEG at seizure onset. RESULTS: Interictal EEG patterns of epileptiform discharges and focal slow waves were recorded most often at the ipsilateral or bilateral sphenoidal electrodes in both groups without significant differences. Ictal EEG onset with rhythmic theta waves was significantly more frequent in MTLE (72.3%) than in NTLE (36.7%), but ictal EEG onset with rhythmic alpha waves and those with rhythmic beta waves were significantly more frequent in NTLE (33.3%, 20.0%, respectively) than in MTLE (10.8%, 1.2%, respectively). Initial ictal EEG patterns appeared more frequently at the sphenoidal electrodes in both groups (MTLE:73.5%, NTLE:60.0%). Initial ictal EEG patterns of the bilateral hemisphere, ipsilateral hemisphere or ipsilateral diffuse temporal area were seen only in NTLE (16.7%, 3.3%, 10% respectively), but not in MTLE. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the initial ictal patterns and the frequency of ictal onset were significantly different in MTLE and NTLE. These differences could give a practical help in diagnosing MTLE and NTLE.
Electrodes ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe* ; Humans ; Scalp* ; Seizures ; Temporal Lobe*

BACKGROUND: Various ictal manifestations of temporal lobe epilepsy have possibly the value of both lateralizing and localizing the epileptogenic zone. Some ictal manifestations such as hand automatism, dystonic limb posture, head turning, and speech phenomenon might distinguish patients with good surgical outcomes from patients with poor out-comes. METHODS: To determine ictal behavioral differences in patients from these groups, we analyzed 207 seizures from 75 patients (group A) who were seizure free after surgery and 172 seizures from 60 patients (group B) who experienced seizures after surgery. All patients had received an anterior temporal lobectomy with amigdalohippocampectomy, and were followed up for at least 1 year. RESULTS: The lateralizing value of ictal semiology was evaluated in group A. Head turning (HT) was shown in 42% of seizures and had a lateralizing significance. Forced HT indicated a contralateral epileptogenic region. Non-forced HT suggested an ipsilateral epileptogenic region. Unilateral dystonic limb posture with or without automatism of the other side occurred in 53% of seizures and had a lateralizing significance, localizing the seizure onset to the contralateral hemisphere. Abnormal speech and vocalization did not have any lateralizing significance. Contralateral dystonic limb posture without ipsilateral automatism was significantly more frequent in group B (p=0.003) as abnormal speech was more frequent in group A (p=0.001). Non-versive head turning had a higher tendency to occur in group A (p=0.0051). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in incidences of versive head turning, unilateral hand automatism without dystonic limb posture, vocalization, and normal speech. CONCLUSIONS: Some ictal manifestations might be helpful in predicting the surgical outcome of temporal lobe epilepsy(TLE) patients. The presence of unidentifiable ictal speech could reflect good surgical outcome in TLE patients. When presurgical video analysis reveal an ictal semiology of contralateral dystonic arm posture without ipsilateral hand automatism, careful presurgical evaluation of the epileptogenic region should be contemplated.
Anterior Temporal Lobectomy ; Arm ; Automatism ; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe* ; Extremities ; Hand ; Head ; Humans ; Incidence ; Posture ; Seizures ; Temporal Lobe*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Qualitative oculomotor abnormalities have been reported in parkinsonian patients for many years, but conflicting results have been obtained. This study was performed to evaluate the correlation between the severity of the disease and the abnormalities of the ocular movements in idiopathic parkinson's disease. METHODS: We gave the vestibular function tests in patients with idiopathic parkinson's disease and normal controls. Eye movement recordings were made with automated electronystagmography and rotation test was performed. A total of 46 patients (mean age : 61.2+/-6.7) and 24 controls (mean age : 60.5+/-4.3) were studied. The severity of the disease was divided into two groups by modified Hoehn & Yahr staging ; H-Y stage 1 and 2 as a mild group and stage 3 and 4 as a severe group. RESULTS: Saccadic latency and accuracy, pursuitic gain and velocity, vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) suppression by vision were significantly altered in patients, whereas mean velocity of optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) and VOR gain in darkness were normal. Alteration of saccadic latency and accuracy, pursuitic gain and velocity, VOR suppression by vision were profound in the severe group compared with a mild group and controls, but the above parameters did not differ between a mild group and controls. In a hemiparkinson's group, saccadic latency and accuracy, pursuitic gain, OKN mean velocity and gain was not different between the both sides. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that severe Parkinson's disease damages nigrostriatal or other specific pathways which were involved in the regulation of the saccadic, pursuitic and pursuitic-mediated visual fixation system. In a hemiparkinson's group asymmetric damage of dopaminergic innervation which was involved in the regulation of ocular movements was not found.
Darkness ; Electronystagmography ; Eye Movements ; Humans ; Nystagmus, Optokinetic ; Parkinson Disease* ; Reflex, Vestibulo-Ocular ; Vestibular Function Tests

BACKGROUND: The Wada test is not yet standardized among epilepsy surgery centers, which makes it difficult to dis-cern the differences between its results. The objectives of this study were to examine the effects of memory stimulus types in the Wada test and the methods of score measurement of results. METHODS: We examined the Wada test in 59 patients with temporal lobe epilepsy who had language dominancy in left hemispheres. They underwent surgical treat-ment and were seizure-free for at least until the 1-year follow up. The Wada test was done on the patients using three different protocols during the presurgical evaluations: 1) protocol A; sixteen cards displaying eight line drawings of common objects and eight words, 13 patients, 2) protocol B; eight line drawings of abstract figures, 14 patients, and 3) protocol C; four line drawings of common objects and four line drawings of abstract figures, 32 patients. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients with RTL (right temporal lobectomy) and 26 patients with LTL (left temporal lobectomy) were not significantly different in demographic and disease characteristics such as age and sex, age at onset, risk factors before 2 years old, epilepsy duration, and Korean Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale- IQ scores. Patients with RTL rec-ognized significantly more words and line drawings of common objects with a right injection than those with a left injection. Patients with LTL recognized significantly more line drawings of abstract figures and common objects fol-lowing a left injection versus a right injection. Correct rates obtained through discriminant function analysis (100% (A), 64% (B) and 84% (C) were higher than that obtained through cutoff criteria (memory asymmetry scores (3)25%: 82% (A), 62% (B) and 56% (C) ). CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that line drawings of common objects as Wada memory stimuli are more useful for the lateralization of the epileptogenic hemisphere than line drawings of abstract figures and words. Discriminant function analysis is also a more effective score measurement than cutoff criteria.
Adult ; Child, Preschool ; Epilepsy ; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intelligence ; Memory* ; Risk Factors ; Temporal Lobe*

BACKGROUND: It is debatable whether psychiatric problems are overrepresented in the epileptic patient population. In addition, the significance of MMPI elevations in epileptic patients is still uncertain. This study attempted to find out MMPI profile characteristics of patients with medically refractory epilepsy (MRE). METHODS: MMPI was administered to 172 MRE patients and 139 normal controls. RESULTS: In terms of the mean value of MMPI scales, the MRE patients group had normal mean values comparable to the normal control group. However, the MRE patients could be classified into three subgroups by a multivariate cluster analysis, which include a subgroup with normal profile group (41% of patients), neurotic profile group (elevated Hs-D-Hy scales; 19% of patients), and psychiatric profile group (elevated Pa-Pt- Sc & Hs-D-Hy scales; 40% of patients). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that the majority of MRE patients have abnormal MMPI profiles and suggests that psychiatric disorders or problems might be common in MRE patients. (J Korean Neurol Assoc 19(3):226~231, 2001)
Epilepsy* ; Humans ; MMPI* ; Psychotic Disorders ; Weights and Measures

PURPOSE: Learning the concepts of pathology can be facilitated by repeated learning situations with illustrative pathology images. Virtual microscopes are digital facsimiles of glass slides that can be viewed on a computer screen. This study was designed to evaluate the possibility of using virtual microscopes as a teaching modality in the pathology laboratory. METHODS: The virtual microscope was produced from high resolution images scanned by an exclusive slide scanner from newly made teaching glass slides. The final teaching material was put up on personal computers in the computer laboratory, classroom, and medical library. RESULTS: This material was easily accessed by exclusive viewers. The students readily adapted to the use of virtual microscopes. The quality of the images in this material was appropriate for viewing. The response from the students displayed highly significant differences between the traditional and virtual microscopes, with the virtual microscope being preferred. CONCLUSION: The virtual microscopes in this study were helpful for medical students studying pathology. The results of this implementation suggest that virtual microscope technology may be extended to other educational venues where traditional microscopes and photomicrographs are currently used.
Education, Medical ; Glass ; Humans ; Learning ; Libraries, Medical ; Microcomputers ; Pathology* ; Students, Medical ; Teaching Materials*

BACKGROUND: There exist considerable debates concerning about the effects of epilepsy surgery on cognitive function. To evaluate the effects of tailored anterior temporal lobectomy with amygdalohippocampectomy (ATLAH) on intelligence and memory, we compared the pre- and post-operative cognitive function in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE). METHODS: Thirty six patients who received unilateral tailored ATLAH from 1993 to 1997 and had been seizure-free for at least two years postoperatively were selected. Mean age at the time of surgery was 26.8 years and mean period of postoperative follow-up was 47 months. The change of cognitive function was assessed pre-and post-operatively using Korean Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (K-WAIS) and Rey memory test. We also assessed the correlation between the extent of hippocampal and lateral temporal cortical resection and cognitive changes respectively. RESULTS: In total patients (N=36), there was statistically significant improvement in performance IQ (PIQ, p<0.05), full scale IQ (FIQ, p<0.05), and auditory verbal learning test (AVLT). In the right temporal lobectomy group (N=16), improvement in PIQ, FIQ, and AVLT reached to statistical significance (p<0.05). In the left temporal lobecto-my group (N=20), improvement in PIQ was significant (p<0.05). In terms of the size of resection, there were tendencies that the cognitive function is more improved in patients with larger hippocampal resection (>2 cm) and in patients with smaller temporal cortical resection (4 cm). CONCLUSIONS: Patients became seizure free after tailored ATLAH may have improvement in performance IQ and full scale IQ. Right side resection, larger hippocampal resection, and smaller lateral temporal resection show better postoperative cognitive function. (J Korean Neurol Assoc 19(2):116~124, 2001)
Adult ; Anterior Temporal Lobectomy* ; Epilepsy ; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intelligence* ; Memory* ; Seizures ; Temporal Lobe* ; Verbal Learning

BACKGROUND: There exist considerable debates concerning about the effects of epilepsy surgery on cognitive function. To evaluate the effects of tailored anterior temporal lobectomy with amygdalohippocampectomy (ATLAH) on intelligence and memory, we compared the pre- and post-operative cognitive function in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE). METHODS: Thirty six patients who received unilateral tailored ATLAH from 1993 to 1997 and had been seizure-free for at least two years postoperatively were selected. Mean age at the time of surgery was 26.8 years and mean period of postoperative follow-up was 47 months. The change of cognitive function was assessed pre-and post-operatively using Korean Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (K-WAIS) and Rey memory test. We also assessed the correlation between the extent of hippocampal and lateral temporal cortical resection and cognitive changes respectively. RESULTS: In total patients (N=36), there was statistically significant improvement in performance IQ (PIQ, p<0.05), full scale IQ (FIQ, p<0.05), and auditory verbal learning test (AVLT). In the right temporal lobectomy group (N=16), improvement in PIQ, FIQ, and AVLT reached to statistical significance (p<0.05). In the left temporal lobecto-my group (N=20), improvement in PIQ was significant (p<0.05). In terms of the size of resection, there were tendencies that the cognitive function is more improved in patients with larger hippocampal resection (>2 cm) and in patients with smaller temporal cortical resection (4 cm). CONCLUSIONS: Patients became seizure free after tailored ATLAH may have improvement in performance IQ and full scale IQ. Right side resection, larger hippocampal resection, and smaller lateral temporal resection show better postoperative cognitive function. (J Korean Neurol Assoc 19(2):116~124, 2001)
Adult ; Anterior Temporal Lobectomy* ; Epilepsy ; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intelligence* ; Memory* ; Seizures ; Temporal Lobe* ; Verbal Learning