Clinical and neurophysiologic markers of epilepsy with frontal lobe seizures in a series of patients diagnosed by video-EEG-telemetry]

The general and ictal clinical features, including EEG findings, of 20 consecutive patients with frontal lobe epilepsy are presented. Diagnosis in all cases was based on video-EEG telemetry using strict criteria. Among the ictal motor phenomena, turning movements, dystonic, choreic and ballistic features prevailed. Ten patients vocalised during their seizures but loss of consciousness was rare, even if there was pronounced motor involvement. The duration of attacks generally was short, not exceeding 60 seconds in 18 patients, in whom sudden onset and cessation of seizures was noted. Ten patients showed inter-ictal epileptiform EEG activity and 19 had ictal abnormalities. The short duration and ictal clinical course may be helpful in differentiating frontal seizures from pseudoseizures.