ABSTRACT

We aimed to investigate seizure outcomes, factors affecting these outcomes and predictive value of presurgical tests for surgical decision-making and postoperative seizure counts in patients with temporal lobe seizures.

In the study, data from 47 patients (25 female, 22 male), operated for temporal lobe epilepsy between the years 1999-2010 and with at least 2 years of regular follow-were evaluated retrospectively. Patients demographic information, preoperative tests for suitability for surgery and seizure outcomes were evaluated.

The percentage of success in localization and lateralization of the epileptic focus was 88.6% for video EEG monitoring (VEM), 85.1% for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and 63.3% for positron emission tomography (PET). The rates of being seizure free for 2 years after surgery was 85.7% for patients with presurgical compatible VEM, MRI and PET results for epileptic focus, 72.7% for patients with only two of presurgical compatible results and 50% for patients with only 1 compatible result (p=0.314). 75.8% Engel Class 1 outcomes in mesial temporal sclerosis group, 92.3% in mass group were observed in second year outcomes after surgery.

Epilepsy surgery provides high rates of probability of being seizure-free and an increase in quality of life in selected patients.

Keywords: Epilepsy surgery, MRI, PET, VEM