Ictal fear auras after selective amygdalohippocampectomy: the use of ictal SPECT and scalp EEG in the presurgical reevaluation

The perception of fear aura in complex partial seizures is linked to epileptic discharges within mesial temporal lobe structures. Although selective amygdalohippocampectomy often leads to favorable seizure control, persistence of fear auras after surgery can hamper quality of life significantly. We describe two patients with persistent fear auras after selective amygdalohippocampectomy who had to be reevaluated for a second operative procedure. In one patient, ictal SPECT revealed focal hyperperfusion within the left temporal pole. In the other patient, localization of the focus was possible with ictal scalp EEG, which revealed closely time-related focal theta activity in the right frontotemporal electrodes. Both patients underwent a second surgery leading to complete remission. The persistence of fear auras after selective amygdalohippocampectomy provides an example of involvement of a complex neuronal network in the generation of this emotional state during mesiotemporal lobe seizures. Ictal SPECT or ictal scalp EEG may be valuable in identifying the involved areas and in guiding the surgeon to render these patients seizure free.     

Significance of post-operative auras after temporal lobectomy: a surprising methodological trap

We aimed to examine post-operative auras/simple partial seizures and the associated risk of seizure recurrence after temporal lobectomy. Included were 159 patients who underwent anterior temporal lobectomy (1995-2006) at Austin Health, Australia. Initial analyses used Cox regression. Post-hoc, exploratory analyses of aura and seizure patterns were undertaken. Initial analyses indicated that post-operative auras were not associated with subsequent disabling seizures (HR 0.65, 95%CI 0.4-1.1 p=0.08). However, post-hoc examination found data patterns that suggest that post-operative auras may have been under-reported when medical contact between these events was absent. These findings are relevant to current research, as similar methodology is commonly employed in post-operative outcome studies. Important implications include potential underestimation of seizure risk associated with auras. Carefully planned prospective studies are required to assess the risk associated with post-operative auras.     

Seizure Frequency and Duration of Epilepsy are Not Risk Factors for Postoperative Seizure Outcome in Patients with Hippocampal Sclerosis

PURPOSE: Despite accurate localization of the seizure focus, not all patients are seizure free after temporal lobectomy. This study determined risk factors for seizure recurrence in patients with proven hippocampal sclerosis. METHODS: The outcome from surgery was assessed in 56 consecutive patients with proven hippocampal sclerosis. The age at surgery, duration of epilepsy, history and age of febrile seizures, age of onset of epilepsy, sex ratio, laterality of seizure focus, and seizure frequency were compared between patients seizure free and those not seizure free, and those seizure and aura free and those with seizure recurrence including auras. RESULTS: During a mean follow-up of 38 months, 48 (86%) of 56 are seizure free. The mean age at surgery (37 vs. 36 years), duration of epilepsy (26 vs. 22 years), age (1.6 vs. 1.1 years), and occurrence (58 vs. 75%) of febrile seizures, age of onset of epilepsy (11 vs. 14 years), sex ratio (50 vs. 75% female), laterality of seizure focus (42 vs. 50% left), greater than weekly seizures (40 vs. 38%), and a history of (69 vs. 75%) and frequency of (2.10 vs. 2.38 per year) secondarily generalized seizures did not differ significantly between the two groups. Similarly there was no significant difference between patients seizure and aura free and those with seizure recurrence including auras. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical factors such as seizure frequency and duration of epilepsy are not risk factors for postoperative seizure recurrence.     

Psychiatric aspects of temporal lobe epilepsy before and after anterior temporal lobectomy

OBJECTIVES: Psychopathology has been reported to be prevalent both before and after surgical treatment for medically intractable temporal lobe epilepsy. Individual patients were evaluated prospectively to assess the effect of anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL) on prevalence and severity of psychiatric disease. METHODS: Psychiatric status was assessed in a consecutive series of epilepsy patients before and 6 months after ATL using a structured psychiatric interview, psychiatric rating scales, and self report mood measures. RESULTS: A DSM-III-R axis I diagnosis was present in 65% of patients before and after surgery. The most common diagnoses were depression, anxiety, and organic mood/personality disorders. There was a trend for major psychiatric diagnoses to be more common in patients with right compared to left temporal lobe seizure focus, both before and after surgery. The apparent stability in the overall rate of psychiatric dysfunction concealed onset of new psychiatric problems in 31% of patients in the months shortly after surgery, and resolution of psychiatric diagnoses in 15% of patients. In the group as a whole, the severity of psychiatric symptoms was lower at 6 months postsurgery than before temporal lobectomy. CONCLUSIONS: The overall prevalence of psychiatric dysfunction was comparably high before and after ATL, but individual changes in psychiatric status and changes in severity of symptoms occurred in many patients in the 6 months after surgery.     

Postoperative EEG and seizure outcome in temporal lobe epilepsy surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prognostic value of scalp electroencephalogram (EEG) after epilepsy surgery, we investigated whether postoperative EEG abnormalities (interictal epileptiform discharges, IED; interictal slow activity, ISA) were associated with seizure outcome and other patient characteristics after resective surgery in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). METHODS: Sixty-two patients with medically refractory TLE who underwent surgery were studied. Patients were categorized according to etiology (mesiotemporal sclerosis vs. tumors/cortical dysplasias); extent of surgical resection (extensive vs. limited); and amount of preoperative IED on wake EEG (oligospikers, <1 IED/h, vs. spikers). Patients were also classified as seizure-free (SF) or having persistent seizures/auras (not-SF) during follow up visits 1 month and 1 year after surgery. Preoperative 60-min interictal EEGs were evaluated for IED and ISA, and compared to postoperative wake EEGs. RESULTS: Seizures/auras persisted in 16/62 (25.8%) patients at 1 month and in 8/62 (12.9%) at 1 year follow up. ISA was not significantly related to outcome. Of 42 patients with EEG negative for IED at 1 month, 4 were not-SF; at 1 year, one of 44 such patients was not-SF. IED was significantly associated with seizure/aura persistence in patients categorized as mesiotemporal sclerosis and with extensive surgery. Oligospikers and spikers on preoperative EEG showed no differences in the postoperative seizure outcome, excellent in both cases; moreover, the presence of postoperative IEDs indicated auras/seizures persistence apart from the preoperative EEG spike frequency. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that the presence of IED of postoperatve EEG strongly indicates seizure/aura persistence. Therefore, serial EEGs should be included in postoperative follow up schedules as a crucial tool in evaluating seizure outcome.     

Somatosensory auras in refractory temporal lobe epilepsy

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence, manifestations, lateralizing value, and surgical prognostic value of somatosensory auras (SSAs) in patients with refractory temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). METHODS: Eighty-one consecutive patients undergoing temporal lobectomy for refractory complex-partial seizures were screened for SSAs. The characteristics of the somatosensory phenomena, occurrence of other aura types, seizure semiology, findings of EEG and imaging studies, temporal lobe neuropathology, and postoperative seizure outcome were determined in each patient with SSAs. RESULTS: Nine (11%) of 81 patients with refractory temporal lobe seizures reported distinct SSAs as part of their habitual seizures. The most common manifestation of SSAs was tingling (eight of nine, 89%), but sensory loss (one of nine, 11%) and pain (one of nine, 11%) also were reported. Five patients had unilateral somatosensory symptoms, and four patients had bilateral somatosensory symptoms. Seizure origin was in the contralateral temporal lobe in four (80%) of five patients with unilateral SSAs, including all patients with unilateral SSAs affecting a limb. Partial temporal lobe resection produced complete seizure remission in all nine (100%) patients 1 year after surgery and in seven (78%) of nine patients 2 years after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: SSAs occur more frequently than previously appreciated in patients with refractory temporal lobe seizures and usually manifest as either unilateral or bilateral tingling. In patients with temporal lobe seizures, unilateral SSAs involving a limb suggest a seizure origin in the contralateral temporal lobe. The surgical outcome of TLE patients with SSAs is favorable. Thus the presence of SSAs should not serve as a deterrent to temporal lobe resection in patients with clearly defined TLE.     

Psychiatric Outcome of Temporal Lobectomy for Epilepsy: Incidence and Treatment of Psychiatric Complications

Summary: Purpose: To determine the incidence of psychiatric disorders before and after surgical treatment for partial epilepsy and to document the effectiveness of their treatment.
Methods: Fifty consecutive patients treated surgically for focal epilepsy (44 temporal and six frontal) were evaluated by established neuropsychiatric methods before surgery and over a mean period of 2 years after surgery. The patients with interictal dysphoric disorders, with or without psychotic episodes, were treated with tricyclic antidepressant medication alone or combined with serotonin selective reuptake inhibitors and, if necessary, with the addition of risperidone.
Results: Before surgery, 25 (57%) of the 44 patients with temporal lobe epilepsy had dysphoric disorders. After surgery, 17 (39%) of the 44 patients experienced either de novo psychiatric complications (six psychotic episodes, six dysphoric disorders, and two depressive episodes) or exacerbation of preoperative dysphoric disorder (three patients). Eight previously intact patients of the 19 (42%) developed dysphoric disorders after surgery that were significantly related to recurrence of seizures. All psychiatric complications occurred in the first 2 months after surgery, except for the six patients intact before surgery, who had a recurrence of seizures. A significant predictor of ultimate excellent psychiatric outcome was complete absence of seizures after surgery. All postoperative psychiatric complications remitted on treatment with psychotropic medication in the compliant patients.
Conclusions: An exceptional psychiatric morbidity is associated with the months after temporal lobectomy. Possible pathogenetic mechanisms are discussed. Antidepressant drugs are very effective in treating the psychiatric disorders of chronic epilepsy; their use in conjunction with the surgical treatment of epilepsy appears to be crucial for the overall positive outcome of a significant number of patients.     

Auras and subclinical seizures: characteristics and prognostic significance

The characteristics and prognostic significance of subclinical seizures and independent auras were studied in 40 patients with partial epilepsy who had long-term electroencephalographic (EEG) monitoring with intracranial electrodes. Focal, restricted subclinical seizures were noted in 23 patients, and 11 patients experienced auras that were accompanied by ictal EEG discharges. Auras and subclinical seizures usually were identical in EEG appearance, but were distributed differently among patients. The subclinical seizures and auras usually had the same origin as complex partial seizures, but did not always reliably indicate complex partial seizure origin. Subclinical seizures and auras were of favorable prognostic significance for patients undergoing temporal lobectomy. A majority (greater than 80%) of individuals with subclinical seizures and auras were free of complex partial seizures after surgery, whereas a minority (29%) of patients without subclinical seizures and auras became free of complex partial seizures.     

Type of preoperative aura may predict postsurgical outcome in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy and mesial temporal sclerosis

PurposeAs the initial symptoms of epileptic seizures, many types of auras have significant localizing or lateralizing value. In this study, we hypothesized that the type of aura may predict postsurgical outcome in patients with medically refractory temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS).MethodsIn this retrospective study, all patients with a clinical diagnosis of medically refractory TLE due to unilateral mesial temporal sclerosis who underwent epilepsy surgery at the Jefferson Comprehensive Epilepsy Center were recruited. Patients were prospectively registered in a database from 1986 through 2014. Postsurgical outcome was classified into two groups: seizure freedom or relapse. Outcome was compared between seven groups of patients according to their preoperative auras.ResultsTwo hundred thirty-seven patients were studied. The chance of becoming free of seizures after surgery in patients with abdominal aura was 65.1%, while in other patients, this was 43.3% (P = 0.01). In two-by-two comparisons, no other significant differences were observed.ConclusionPatients with medically refractory TLE–MTS who reported abdominal auras preceding their seizures fared better postoperatively with regard to seizure control compared with those who did not report auras, which may indicate bitemporal dysfunction, and to patients with other auras, which may indicate a widespread epileptogenic zone in the latter group of patients.     

Mood disturbance before and after seizure surgery: a comparison of temporal and extratemporal resections

PURPOSE: Mood disturbance is a common comorbid condition of temporal lobe epilepsy before and after seizure surgery. Few studies have examined mood disturbance in patients undergoing resections outside the temporal lobe (extratemporal resections). This study aimed to compare the early, postoperative evolution of mood disturbance in temporal and extratemporal lobe epilepsy patients to examine the effect of site of surgical resection on mood outcome. METHODS: The study used a longitudinal design and was qualitative in nature. Sixty seizure surgery patients (43 temporal resections, 17 extratemporal resections) were assessed before surgery and at discharge, 1 month, and 3 months after surgery, by using the Austin CEP Interview. Psychosocial adjustment, psychiatric difficulties, including depression and anxiety, and seizure frequency were assessed. RESULTS: Before surgery, both temporal and extratemporal patients had significant psychiatric histories with similarly high rates of depression (33 and 53%, respectively) and anxiety (23 and 18%, respectively). After surgery, significantly more temporal patients were seizure free at each of the reviews compared with extratemporal patients. Temporal patients also reported significantly higher levels of depression (26%), anxiety (42%), and psychosocial adjustment difficulties (64%) at the 1-month review than did extratemporal patients. Mood disturbance was significantly associated with adjustment difficulties in both groups, but was not related to seizure outcome at any review period. CONCLUSIONS: A general increase in mood disturbance was evident after surgery, particularly in temporal resection patients at the 1-month review. Site of surgery and psychosocial adjustment showed significant associations with postoperative mood disturbance, supporting the role of both neurobiological and psychosocial factors in mood outcome.     

The role of aura in psychopathology and dissociative experiences in epilepsy

Cognitive auras seem to be associated with depression and anxiety, especially in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Dissociative symptoms may occur as an aura or in the context of psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety or schizophrenia. This is a cross-sectional study of 62 patients with TLE, using personality and dissociation measures to investigate their relationship with the presence of aura and its different subtypes. Our findings show no difference in psychopathology in patients with different types of aura and reveal that dissociative symptoms correlate with specific measures of anxiety, suggesting a possible link between these experiences and anxiety disorders.     

Postsurgical outcome in patients with olfactory auras and drug-resistant epilepsy

ObjectivesWe investigated the clinical features associated with olfactory auras in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy and also hypothesized that this type of aura may predict worse postsurgical outcome in patients with drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE).MethodsIn this retrospective analysis, data from all patients with drug-resistant epilepsy who underwent epilepsy surgery were reviewed. Patients were prospectively registered in a database from 1986 through 2016. We assessed outcome in the first 5 years after surgery to produce a Kaplan–Meier estimate of seizure recurrence. Post-surgical outcome was classified into two groups; 1) seizure-free, with or without auras; or 2) relapse of complex partial or secondarily generalized seizures. We also investigated the clinical features of patients with TLE and olfactory auras compared with those without olfactory auras.ResultsWe studied 1186 patients. Thirty-seven patients (3.1%) reported olfactory auras with their seizures. Thirty-two patients had temporal lobe surgery. Intracranial video-EEG recording was performed in four patients. Three patients with lateral temporal neocortical seizures reported olfactory auras with their seizures; two of them were seizure-free after surgery. There were no significant clinical differences between patients with TLE and olfactory auras compared with those without. Seizure outcome after surgery was not significantly different between these two groups (p = 0.3; Cox–Mantel test).ConclusionThe rarity of olfactory auras makes it difficult to propose new diagnostic and treatment strategies. A multicenter approach, which can enroll more patients, is needed to devise better therapies for patients with drug-resistant epilepsy and this symptom.     

Post-ictal psychosis after right temporal lobectomy.

Of 298 patients who had temporal lobectomies for intractable epilepsy, 4 (1.3%) developed post-ictal psychosis for the first time after surgery. All were males of normal intelligence with no pre-operative psychiatric disorder. Psychosis followed both complex partial and generalised seizures. The psychotic symptoms showed polymorphic features. Right temporal lobectomy may increase the susceptibility to post-ictal psychosis in patients who are not seizure free after surgery, particularly in the first post-operative year.     

癫(癎)患者先兆症状的研究

目的 探讨癫(癎)患者先兆症状的发生比例、临床表现,为正确诊断治疗癫(癎)提供依据.方法 回顾性研究1028例癫(癎)患者的临床资料,分析癫(癎)患者的先兆发生率、临床表现、脑电图和神经影像学结果.比较伴或不伴先兆的部分性发作癫(癎)患者的发病年龄、性别、脑电图、神经影像学的差异以及腹部先兆在颞叶内外侧癫(癎)出现比例的差异.结果 部分性癫(癎)725例,484例(66.8 % )出现先兆;全面性发作者303例,无一例患者出现先兆.64例患者出现2种或2种以上的先兆表现;14例出现持续性先兆的癫(癎)患者.1028例患者中脑电图异常547例(53.2 % ),影像学异常217例(21.1 % ).484例有先兆症状的患者中286例脑电图异常(59.1 % ),126例(26.0 % )影像学异常.伴或不伴先兆的部分性发作癫(癎)患者的首次发病年龄差异无统计学意义,腹部先兆在颞叶内外侧癫(癎)出现的比例差异有统计学意义(x2=170.877,P<0.01).结论 癫(癎)患者先兆症状多样,分析先兆症状对于癫(癎)分型、病灶定位以及合理治疗有指导意义.     

癫(癎)患者先兆症状的研究

目的 探讨癫(癎)患者先兆症状的发生比例、临床表现,为正确诊断治疗癫(癎)提供依据.方法 回顾性研究1028例癫(癎)患者的临床资料,分析癫(癎)患者的先兆发生率、临床表现、脑电图和神经影像学结果.比较伴或不伴先兆的部分性发作癫(癎)患者的发病年龄、性别、脑电图、神经影像学的差异以及腹部先兆在颞叶内外侧癫(癎)出现比例的差异.结果 部分性癫(癎)725例,484例(66.8 % )出现先兆;全面性发作者303例,无一例患者出现先兆.64例患者出现2种或2种以上的先兆表现;14例出现持续性先兆的癫(癎)患者.1028例患者中脑电图异常547例(53.2 % ),影像学异常217例(21.1 % ).484例有先兆症状的患者中286例脑电图异常(59.1 % ),126例(26.0 % )影像学异常.伴或不伴先兆的部分性发作癫(癎)患者的首次发病年龄差异无统计学意义,腹部先兆在颞叶内外侧癫(癎)出现的比例差异有统计学意义(x2=170.877,P<0.01).结论 癫(癎)患者先兆症状多样,分析先兆症状对于癫(癎)分型、病灶定位以及合理治疗有指导意义.     

癫(癎)患者先兆症状的研究

目的 探讨癫(癎)患者先兆症状的发生比例、临床表现,为正确诊断治疗癫(癎)提供依据.方法 回顾性研究1028例癫(癎)患者的临床资料,分析癫(癎)患者的先兆发生率、临床表现、脑电图和神经影像学结果.比较伴或不伴先兆的部分性发作癫(癎)患者的发病年龄、性别、脑电图、神经影像学的差异以及腹部先兆在颞叶内外侧癫(癎)出现比例的差异.结果 部分性癫(癎)725例,484例(66.8 % )出现先兆;全面性发作者303例,无一例患者出现先兆.64例患者出现2种或2种以上的先兆表现;14例出现持续性先兆的癫(癎)患者.1028例患者中脑电图异常547例(53.2 % ),影像学异常217例(21.1 % ).484例有先兆症状的患者中286例脑电图异常(59.1 % ),126例(26.0 % )影像学异常.伴或不伴先兆的部分性发作癫(癎)患者的首次发病年龄差异无统计学意义,腹部先兆在颞叶内外侧癫(癎)出现的比例差异有统计学意义(x2=170.877,P<0.01).结论 癫(癎)患者先兆症状多样,分析先兆症状对于癫(癎)分型、病灶定位以及合理治疗有指导意义.     

癫(癎)患者先兆症状的研究

目的 探讨癫(癎)患者先兆症状的发生比例、临床表现,为正确诊断治疗癫(癎)提供依据.方法 回顾性研究1028例癫(癎)患者的临床资料,分析癫(癎)患者的先兆发生率、临床表现、脑电图和神经影像学结果.比较伴或不伴先兆的部分性发作癫(癎)患者的发病年龄、性别、脑电图、神经影像学的差异以及腹部先兆在颞叶内外侧癫(癎)出现比例的差异.结果 部分性癫(癎)725例,484例(66.8 % )出现先兆;全面性发作者303例,无一例患者出现先兆.64例患者出现2种或2种以上的先兆表现;14例出现持续性先兆的癫(癎)患者.1028例患者中脑电图异常547例(53.2 % ),影像学异常217例(21.1 % ).484例有先兆症状的患者中286例脑电图异常(59.1 % ),126例(26.0 % )影像学异常.伴或不伴先兆的部分性发作癫(癎)患者的首次发病年龄差异无统计学意义,腹部先兆在颞叶内外侧癫(癎)出现的比例差异有统计学意义(x2=170.877,P<0.01).结论 癫(癎)患者先兆症状多样,分析先兆症状对于癫(癎)分型、病灶定位以及合理治疗有指导意义.     

癫(癎)患者先兆症状的研究

目的 探讨癫(癎)患者先兆症状的发生比例、临床表现,为正确诊断治疗癫(癎)提供依据.方法 回顾性研究1028例癫(癎)患者的临床资料,分析癫(癎)患者的先兆发生率、临床表现、脑电图和神经影像学结果.比较伴或不伴先兆的部分性发作癫(癎)患者的发病年龄、性别、脑电图、神经影像学的差异以及腹部先兆在颞叶内外侧癫(癎)出现比例的差异.结果 部分性癫(癎)725例,484例(66.8 % )出现先兆;全面性发作者303例,无一例患者出现先兆.64例患者出现2种或2种以上的先兆表现;14例出现持续性先兆的癫(癎)患者.1028例患者中脑电图异常547例(53.2 % ),影像学异常217例(21.1 % ).484例有先兆症状的患者中286例脑电图异常(59.1 % ),126例(26.0 % )影像学异常.伴或不伴先兆的部分性发作癫(癎)患者的首次发病年龄差异无统计学意义,腹部先兆在颞叶内外侧癫(癎)出现的比例差异有统计学意义(x2=170.877,P<0.01).结论 癫(癎)患者先兆症状多样,分析先兆症状对于癫(癎)分型、病灶定位以及合理治疗有指导意义.     

癫(癎)患者先兆症状的研究

目的 探讨癫(癎)患者先兆症状的发生比例、临床表现,为正确诊断治疗癫(癎)提供依据.方法 回顾性研究1028例癫(癎)患者的临床资料,分析癫(癎)患者的先兆发生率、临床表现、脑电图和神经影像学结果.比较伴或不伴先兆的部分性发作癫(癎)患者的发病年龄、性别、脑电图、神经影像学的差异以及腹部先兆在颞叶内外侧癫(癎)出现比例的差异.结果 部分性癫(癎)725例,484例(66.8 % )出现先兆;全面性发作者303例,无一例患者出现先兆.64例患者出现2种或2种以上的先兆表现;14例出现持续性先兆的癫(癎)患者.1028例患者中脑电图异常547例(53.2 % ),影像学异常217例(21.1 % ).484例有先兆症状的患者中286例脑电图异常(59.1 % ),126例(26.0 % )影像学异常.伴或不伴先兆的部分性发作癫(癎)患者的首次发病年龄差异无统计学意义,腹部先兆在颞叶内外侧癫(癎)出现的比例差异有统计学意义(x2=170.877,P<0.01).结论 癫(癎)患者先兆症状多样,分析先兆症状对于癫(癎)分型、病灶定位以及合理治疗有指导意义.