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AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2019 Apr 18. Epub 2019 Apr 18.

Neurosurgery (M.P.), Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences, Secunderabad, India.

Background And Purpose: Focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) is one of the most common causes of drug resistant epilepsy. Our aim was to evaluate the role of presurgical noninvasive multimodality imaging techniques in selecting patients with refractory epilepsy and focal cortical dysplasia for epilepsy surgery and the influence of the imaging modalities on long-term seizure freedom.

Materials And Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of data of 188 consecutive patients with FCD and refractory epilepsy with at least 2 years of postsurgery follow-up. Read More

Neurocase 2019 Apr 16:1-4. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

c Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, Epilepsy Centre , "Federico II" University of Naples , Naples , Italy.

Many neuropsychiatric phenotypes have been reported in association with rearrangements in the 15q11-q13 region. Clinical presentations can include hypotonia, developmental delay, severe/moderate intellectual disabilities, poor expressive language, difficult to treat epilepsy, and autism spectrum disorders. Here we report an additional case of a girl with inversion duplication on chromosome 15 (Inv-Dup 15) showing a peculiar and milder clinical phenotype, including atypical high-functioning autism disorder, late onset and drug-responsive epilepsy, and a relatively good language development . Read More

JAMA Neurol 2019 Apr 15. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

Brain Modulation Laboratory, Department of Neurological Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Importance: A bidirectional brain-computer interface that performs neurostimulation has been shown to improve seizure control in patients with refractory epilepsy, but the therapeutic mechanism is unknown.

Objective: To investigate whether electrographic effects of responsive neurostimulation (RNS), identified in electrocorticographic (ECOG) recordings from the device, are associated with patient outcomes.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Retrospective review of ECOG recordings and accompanying clinical meta-data from 11 consecutive patients with focal epilepsy who were implanted with a neurostimulation system between January 28, 2015, and June 6, 2017, with 22 to 112 weeks of follow-up. Read More

Fetal Diagn Ther 2019 Apr 12:1-8. Epub 2019 Apr 12.

Department of Pediatric Surgery, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.

Background: The etiology of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) remains poorly understood. We hypothesize that environmental factors play an important role in the development of CDH.

Aim: The objective of this study was to investigate associated maternal risk factors in pregnancies with CDH. Read More

Seizure 2018 Dec 7;69:57-60. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States.

Purpose: Ictal semiology complements ictal EEG in identifying the likely epileptogenic zone. Ictal turning prone (ITP) with body turning of 90 ° or more can be seen with frontal lobe epilepsies. The aim of our study was to evaluate the localizing value of ITP in a general population of patients undergoing long term video-EEG monitoring. Read More

Epilepsy Behav 2019 Apr 8;94:209-215. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands. Electronic address:

Mild malformation of cortical development (mMCD) and focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) subtypes combined are by far the most common histological diagnoses in children who undergo surgery as treatment for refractory epilepsy. In patients with refractory epilepsy, a substantial burden of disease is due to cognitive impairment. We studied intelligence quotient (IQ) or developmental quotient (DQ) values and their change after epilepsy surgery in a consecutive series of 42 children (median age at surgery: 4. Read More

Epilepsy Behav 2019 Apr 7;94:189-194. Epub 2019 Apr 7.

Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6, Canada; Neurosciences and Mental Health Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada. Electronic address:

In children with epilepsy, the impact of surgery including or sparing the mesial temporal lobes (TLs) on visuospatial memory has not been thoroughly investigated, and a clear pattern of hemispheric lateralization has not been observed. The primary aim of this study was to examine visuospatial learning and memory outcomes in children with epilepsy prior to and one year after surgical excision, to determine whether outcomes differed as a function of the localization and lateralization of surgical excisions. Forty-six children who underwent unilateral TL surgery with sparing of the mesial structures (TL group, N = 21, 16 left) or including mesial structures (TL + M group, N = 25 children, 12 left) were retrospectively recruited. Read More

Epilepsia 2019 Apr 10. Epub 2019 Apr 10.

Developmental Neurosciences Programme, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK.

Objective: Intelligence quotient (IQ) outcomes after pediatric epilepsy surgery show significant individual variation. Clinical factors such as seizure cessation or antiepileptic medication discontinuation have been implicated, but do not fully account for the heterogeneity seen. Less is known about the impact of neurobiological factors, such as brain development and resection location. Read More

Seizure 2019 Mar 28;69:31-40. Epub 2019 Mar 28.

Department of Neurosurgery, Sainte-Anne Hospital, Paris, France; Paris Descartes University, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France; UMR 1266 INSERM, IMA-BRAIN, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurosciences of Paris, Paris, France. Electronic address:

Purpose: The practical management of cavernous angioma located within eloquent brain area before, during and after surgical resection is poorly documented. We assessed the practical pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative management of cavernous angioma located within eloquent brain area.

Method: An online survey composed of 61 items was sent to 26 centers to establish a multicenter international retrospective cohort of adult patients who underwent a surgical resection as the first-line treatment of a supratentorial cavernous angioma located within or close to eloquent brain area. Read More

Epilepsy Curr 2019 Mar-Apr;19(2):91-92

Removing High-Frequency Oscillations: A Prospective Multicenter Study on Seizure Outcome Jacobs J, Wu JY, Perucca P, et al. Neurology. 2018;91(11):e1040-e1052. Read More

J Neurosurg 2019 04 5:1-10. Epub 2019 Apr 5.

Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Objective: The objectives of this study were to identify functional and structural network properties that are associated with early versus long-term seizure outcomes after mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE) surgery and to determine how these compare to current clinically used methods for seizure outcome prediction.

Methods: In this case-control study, 26 presurgical mTLE patients and 44 healthy controls were enrolled to undergo 3-T MRI for functional and structural connectivity mapping across an 8-region network of mTLE seizure propagation, including the hippocampus (left and right), insula (left and right), thalamus (left and right), one midline precuneus, and one midline mid-cingulate. Seizure outcome was assessed annually for up to 3 years. Read More

Epilepsy Behav 2019 Feb 30;91:25-29. Epub 2018 Jun 30.

Epilepsy Center, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany. Electronic address:

For patients with pharmacoresistant focal epilepsy, neurostimulation offers nonpharmacological strategies to improve seizure control. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), deep brain stimulation of the anterior thalamic nuclei, and responsive neurostimulation (RNS) are approved therapies which have shown efficacy in randomized short-term trials. Controlled data from prospective studies are needed to confirm reports on stable or even increasing evidence from studies with longer follow-up and to confirm that neurostimulation may offer advantages also regarding cognitive tolerability and sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP)-risk. Read More

Neurosurgery 2019 Mar 29. Epub 2019 Mar 29.

Department of Neurosurgery, Sainte-Anne Hospital, Paris, France.

Background: The postoperative outcomes and the predictors of seizure control are poorly studied for supratentorial cavernous angiomas (CA) within or close to the eloquent brain area.

Objective: To assess the predictors of preoperative seizure control, postoperative seizure control, and postoperative ability to work, and the safety of the surgery.

Methods: Multicenter international retrospective cohort analysis of adult patients benefitting from a functional-based surgical resection with intraoperative functional brain mapping for a supratentorial CA within or close to eloquent brain areas. Read More

Childs Nerv Syst 2019 May 26;35(5):753-767. Epub 2019 Mar 26.

Epilepsy research center of PLA, Department of Neurosurgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China.

Object: The aim of this study was to determine the predictors of seizure recurrence in surgery for focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) by conducting a meta-analysis.

Methods: Publications that met the pre-stated inclusion criteria were selected from PubMed and CNKI databases. Two authors extracted data independently about prognostic factors, surgical outcome, and clinical characteristics of participants. Read More

Epilepsy Res 2019 05 19;152:59-66. Epub 2019 Mar 19.

Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom; The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London, United Kingdom. Electronic address:

Objective: Predictors of psychiatric outcome following TLE surgery have proved elusive and represent a current challenge in the practice of TLE surgery. This prospective study investigated whether frontal lobe dysfunction is predictive of poorer psychiatric outcomes.

Methods: Forty-nine unilateral TLE surgical patients were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory-Fast Screen (BDI-FS) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) preoperatively and 6 and 12 months postoperatively. Read More

J Neurol Surg A Cent Eur Neurosurg 2019 Mar 20. Epub 2019 Mar 20.

Department of Neurosurgery, Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

Purpose:  Isolated acute subdural hematoma (aSDH) in pediatric patients is rare, but it has a major impact on outcome. The purpose of this study was to determine incidence, seizure risk factors, and the outcome of pediatric patients with aSDH.

Methods:  Within a 10-year period (2007-2016), 10 children with aSDH were identified. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Mar 14. Epub 2019 Mar 14.

Department of Neurosurgery, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address:

Objective: Multiple subpial transection (MST) is a possible surgical treatment for patients with epileptogenic foci located in eloquent cortical areas. Commonly, it is performed in addition to other surgical techniques. In some cases, however, it is performed alone. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Mar 15. Epub 2019 Mar 15.

Department of Neurosurgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA. Electronic address:

Background: Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) presents an important new minimally invasive tool in the management of drug-resistant mesial temporal epilepsy (MTE). However, because of its relative novelty, not much is known about long-term seizure freedom rates. The objective of this study was to evaluate the postsurgical seizure outcome following LITT after a minimum follow-up period of 2 years. Read More

Seizure 2019 Feb 24;67:30-37. Epub 2019 Feb 24.

Bethel Epilepsy Center, Bielefeld, Germany; Laboratory Krone, Bad Salzuflen, Germany.

Purpose: To investigate the very long-term (i.e., ≥15 years) seizure, cognitive and psycho-social outcomes in resected patients (RP) with TLE compared to control patients not having undergone epilepsy surgery. Read More

CNS Neurosci Ther 2019 Mar 13. Epub 2019 Mar 13.

Department of Functional Neurosurgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.

Objectives: Patients with epilepsy and refractory comorbid psychiatric disorders often experience functional impairments and a lower quality of life as well as showing a lack of compliance with anti-epileptic medication regimens. We reasoned that widespread clinical benefits could be gained if the psychiatric comorbidities among these patients were reduced. In this study, we assessed the utility of anterior capsulotomy in managing medication-refractory comorbid psychotic symptoms and aggression in patients with epilepsy. Read More

Epilepsia Open 2019 Mar 13;4(1):170-175. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery Brain Center Rudolf Magnus University Medical Center Utrecht Utrecht The Netherlands.

Focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) and mild malformation of cortical development (mMCD) are frequent histopathologic diagnoses in patients who undergo surgery for refractory epilepsy. Literature concerning surgical outcome in patients with mMCD, as well as its contrast with FCD, has been scarce. We studied 88 patients with a histopathologic diagnosis of isolated FCD (n = 57) or mMCD (n = 31), revised according to the latest International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) guidelines, who underwent resective or disconnective surgery. Read More

Epilepsia 2019 Apr 13;60(4):707-717. Epub 2019 Mar 13.

Department of Neurosciences, Center for Epilepsy Surgery "C. Munari,", Hospital Niguarda, Milan, Italy.

Objectives: Sleep-related hypermotor epilepsy (SHE), formerly nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy, is characterized by abrupt and typically sleep-related seizures with motor patterns of variable complexity and duration. They seizures arise more frequently in the frontal lobe than in the extrafrontal regions but identifying the seizure onset-zone (SOZ) may be challenging. In this study, we aimed to describe the clinical features of both frontal and extrafrontal SHE, focusing on ictal semiologic patterns in order to increase diagnostic accuracy. Read More

Children (Basel) 2019 Mar 11;6(3). Epub 2019 Mar 11.

Unit of Neurodiagnostic, Division of Neuroradiology, Geneva University Hospital, rue Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil 4, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland.

The etiology of epilepsy is variable and sometimes multifactorial. Clinical course and response to treatment largely depend on the precise etiology of the seizures. Along with the electroencephalogram (EEG), neuroimaging techniques, in particular, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), are the most important tools for determining the possible etiology of epilepsy. Read More

JAMA Neurol 2019 Mar 11. Epub 2019 Mar 11.

UK National Institute for Health Research, University College London (UCL) Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre, Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom.

Importance: A functional area associated with the piriform cortex, termed area tempestas, has been implicated in animal studies as having a crucial role in modulating seizures, but similar evidence is limited in humans.

Objective: To assess whether removal of the piriform cortex is associated with postoperative seizure freedom in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) as a proof-of-concept for the relevance of this area in human TLE.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This cohort study used voxel-based morphometry and volumetry to assess differences in structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans in consecutive patients with TLE who underwent epilepsy surgery in a single center from January 1, 2005, through December 31, 2013. Read More

Behav Sci (Basel) 2019 Mar 4;9(3). Epub 2019 Mar 4.

Centro Internacional de Rehabilitación Neurológica, Havana 10400, Cuba.

The purpose of this paper is to estimate the association between quantitative electroencephalogram frequency composition (QEEGC) and post-surgical evolution in patients with pharmacoresistant temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and to evaluate the predictive value of QEEGC before and after surgery. A prospective, longitudinal study was made at International Neurological Restoration Center, Havana, Cuba. Twenty-nine patients with TLE submitted to epilepsy surgery were evaluated before surgery, and six months and two years after. Read More

JAMA Neurol 2019 Mar 4. Epub 2019 Mar 4.

Department of Neurology, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health, Houston.

Importance: A major change has occurred in the evaluation of epilepsy with the availability of robotic stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) for seizure localization. However, the comparative morbidity and outcomes of this minimally invasive procedure relative to traditional subdural electrode (SDE) implantation are unknown.

Objective: To perform a comparative analysis of the relative efficacy, procedural morbidity, and epilepsy outcomes consequent to SEEG and SDE in similar patient populations and performed by a single surgeon at 1 center. Read More

Clin Neurophysiol 2019 May 8;130(5):845-855. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

Department of (Child) Neurology and Neurosurgery, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, PO Box 85090, 3508 AB Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address:

Objective: Interictal high resolution (HR-) electric source imaging (ESI) and magnetic source imaging (MSI) are non-invasive tools to aid epileptogenic zone localization in epilepsy surgery candidates. We carried out a systematic review on the diagnostic accuracy and quality of evidence of these modalities.

Methods: Embase, Pubmed and the Cochrane database were searched on 13 February 2017. Read More

Epilepsy Behav 2019 Feb 26. Epub 2019 Feb 26.

Neurology Unit, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy. Electronic address:

Social cognition allows us to elaborate mental representations of social relationships and use them appropriately in a social environment. One of its main attributes is the so-called Theory of Mind (ToM), which consists of the ability to attribute beliefs, intentions, emotions, and feelings to self and others. Investigating social cognition may help understand the poor social outcome often experienced by persons with Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsies (IGE), who otherwise present with normal intelligence. Read More

Pediatr Neurol 2019 Jan 30. Epub 2019 Jan 30.

Epilepsy Center, Seirei Hamamatsu General Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan.

Background: This retrospective study is designed to determine whether the thickness of the corpus callosum can predict corpus callosotomy outcome in pediatric patients with epileptic or tonic spasms.

Methods: We retrospectively studied 25 patients (18 boys) with intractable childhood-onset epileptic or tonic spasms who underwent corpus callosotomy between March 2008 and January 2017. Seizure outcomes were classified as favorable (class I and II of Engel's outcome classification) or unfavorable (class III and IV of Engel's outcome classification) at 12 months postoperatively. Read More

J Epilepsy Res 2018 Dec 31;8(2):81-86. Epub 2018 Dec 31.

Department of Neurology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, India.

Background And Purpose: This study was performed to elucidate quality of life (QOL) and its determinants in adult drug refractory epilepsy (DRE) patients who were not candidates for epilepsy surgery.

Methods: A correlational study was performed at the center of excellence, epilepsy between July 2014 to June 2016. All consecutive DRE patients who were not candidates for epilepsy surgery were enrolled. Read More

Brain 2019 Apr;142(4):932-951

School of Health Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Australia.

Drug-resistant focal epilepsy is a major clinical problem and surgery is under-used. Better non-invasive techniques for epileptogenic zone localization are needed when MRI shows no lesion or an extensive lesion. The problem is interictal and ictal localization before propagation from the epileptogenic zone. Read More

Seizure 2019 Mar 15;66:53-60. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Wai Nan Guo Xue Lane 37 #, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China. Electronic address:

Purpose: To evaluate the predictors of seizure reduction outcome after vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE).

Methods: A meta-analysis was performed using relevant research from databases such as PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Online Library, and Clinicaltrials.gov. Read More

J Neurosurg 2019 Feb 22:1-10. Epub 2019 Feb 22.

Departments of2Neurologic Surgery.

OBJECTIVEAlmost 30% of the patients with suspected temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) have normal results on MRI. Success rates for resection of MRI-negative TLE are less favorable, ranging from 36% to 76%. Herein the authors describe the impact of intraoperative electrocorticography (ECoG) augmented by opioid activation and its effect on postoperative seizure outcome. Read More

J Neurosurg Pediatr 2019 Feb 22:1-12. Epub 2019 Feb 22.

Departments of1Pediatrics.

OBJECTIVEThis study is aimed at improving the clinical utility of diffusion-weighted imaging maximum a posteriori probability (DWI-MAP) analysis, which has been reported to be useful for predicting postoperative motor, language, and visual field deficits in pediatric epilepsy surgery. The authors determined the additive value of a new clustering mapping method in which average direct-flip distance (ADFD) reclassifies the outliers of original DWI-MAP streamlines by referring to their minimum distances to the exemplar streamlines (i.e. Read More

Ann Neurol 2019 Apr 18;85(4):485-494. Epub 2019 Mar 18.

Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.

Objective: To investigate whether high-frequency oscillations (HFOs) show spatiotemporal propagation and assess the relevance of the earliest oscillations in relation to the seizure onset zone (SOZ) and postsurgical outcome.

Methods: We retrospectively investigated the intracerebral electroencephalography (EEG) of patients who became seizure free after subsequent surgery. We marked HFOs during 1 hour of recordings. Read More

Epileptic Disord 2019 Feb;21(1):122-127

Department of Neurosurgery, Section for Pediatric Neurosurgery, University of Ulm, Germany.

Focal cortical dysplasia is a common cause of medically refractory epilepsy in infancy and childhood. We report a neonate with seizures occurring within the first day of life. Continuous video-EEG monitoring led to detection of left motor seizures and a right frontal EEG seizure pattern. Read More

Epileptic Disord 2019 Feb;21(1):65-77

Epilepsy Center, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

We comprehensively studied the clinical presentation, stereo-EEG and MRI findings, histopathological diagnosis, and brain somatic mutations in a retrospective series of drug-resistant patients with difficult-to-localize epilepsy due to focal cortical dysplasia at the bottom of a sulcus (BOS-FCD). We identified 10 patients with BOS-FCD from the Cleveland Clinic epilepsy surgery database submitted for intracranial video-EEG monitoring. Brain MRI, including voxel-based morphometric analysis and surgical tissue submitted for histopathology, was reviewed. Read More

BMC Neurol 2019 Feb 19;19(1):29. Epub 2019 Feb 19.

Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.

Background: Individuals with epilepsy who cannot be adequately controlled with anti-epileptic drugs, refractory epilepsy, may be suitable for surgical treatment following detailed assessment. This is a complex process and there are concerns over delays in referring refractory epilepsy patients for surgery and subsequent treatment. The aim of this study was to explore the different patient pathways, referral and surgical timeframes, and surgical and medical treatment options for refractory epilepsy patients referred to two Tertiary Epilepsy Clinics in New South Wales, Australia. Read More

Epilepsy Behav 2019 Feb 16;93:22-28. Epub 2019 Feb 16.

Department of Neuroscience and Neurorehabilitation, Bambino Gesù Children Hospital, Rome, Italy. Electronic address:

Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate clinical characteristics and outcome of hemispherotomy in children and adolescents with hemispheric refractory epilepsy in an Italian cohort of patients.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the clinical course and outcome of 92 patients with refractory epilepsy who underwent hemispherotomy in three Italian epilepsy centers between 2006 and 2016. Three different approaches for hemispherotomy were used: parasagittal, modified parasagittal, and lateral. Read More

Epilepsy Behav 2019 Feb 16;93:12-15. Epub 2019 Feb 16.

Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP), Brazil. Electronic address:

Objective: The objective of this study was to verify if the presence of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) could be a risk factor precluding corticoamygdalohippocampectomy (CAH) in patients with refractory temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS) (TLE-MTS).

Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed medical data of patients with refractory TLE-MTS accompanied in a Brazilian epilepsy surgery center. Presurgical psychiatric evaluations were performed using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria. Read More

Clin Neurophysiol 2019 Apr 31;130(4):491-504. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

Laboratory of Children's Brain Dynamics, Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging Developmental Science Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address:

Objective: To evaluate the accuracy and clinical utility of conventional 21-channel EEG (conv-EEG), 72-channel high-density EEG (HD-EEG) and 306-channel MEG in localizing interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs).

Methods: Twenty-four children who underwent epilepsy surgery were studied. IEDs on conv-EEG, HD-EEG, MEG and intracranial EEG (iEEG) were localized using equivalent current dipoles and dynamical statistical parametric mapping (dSPM). Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Feb 11. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Glioma Surgery Division, Neurological Surgery Department of Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. Electronic address:

Objective: To evaluate the risk factors of tumor-related epilepsy (TRE) and the relationship between TRE and functional/survival outcomes in patients with high-grade glioma (HGG).

Methods: The clinical data of 587 patients with HGG were retrospectively analyzed. A χ test and logistic multiple-regression analysis were used to analyze factors associated with TRE. Read More

Orv Hetil 2019 Feb;160(7):270-278

Neurológiai Klinika, Pécsi Tudományegyetem, Általános Orvostudományi Kar Pécs, Rét u. 2., 7623.

Introduction: Epilepsy as a chronic, severe neurologic disease significantly influences the quality of life of the epileptic patients. In candidates well selected for surgery, the seizure freedom is realistically achievable, and the quality of life can be further improved with complex individual rehabilitation.

Aim: We aimed to evaluate the postoperative outcome of patients who underwent epilepsy surgery between 2005 and 2016 at the Epilepsy Center at Pécs. Read More

Epilepsia 2019 Mar 11;60(3):560-570. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Clinical Epilepsy Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, Maryland.

Objective: To assess the ability of functional MRI (fMRI) to predict postoperative language decline compared to direct cortical stimulation (DCS) in epilepsy surgery patients.

Methods: In this prospective case series, 17 patients with drug-resistant epilepsy had intracranial monitoring and resection from 2012 to 2016 with 1-year follow-up. All patients completed preoperative language fMRI, mapping with DCS of subdural electrodes, pre- and postoperative neuropsychological testing for language function, and resection. Read More

Epilepsy Behav 2019 Mar 6;92:311-326. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 3BG, UK; Chalfont Centre for Epilepsy, Chalfont St Peter SL9 0RJ, UK; Stichting Epilepsie Instellingen Nederland (SEIN), Achterweg 5, 2103 SW Heemstede, Netherlands. Electronic address:

Background: Epilepsy surgery is an important treatment option for people with drug-resistant epilepsy. Surgical procedures for epilepsy are underutilized worldwide, but it is far worse in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), and it is less clear as to what extent people with drug-resistant epilepsy receive such treatment at all. Here, we review the existing evidence for the availability and outcome of epilepsy surgery in LMIC and discuss some challenges and priority. Read More

Epilepsy Behav 2019 Mar 3;92:245-252. Epub 2019 Feb 3.

Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia; Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, Melbourne Brain Centre, 245 Burgundy Street, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Melbourne, Victoria 3084, Australia. Electronic address:

Drug-resistant pediatric epilepsy involves unpredictable seizures and long-term medical management. Both factors can alter a child's psychosocial development and the dynamics of the family, to the detriment of patient and family wellbeing. While drug-resistant pediatric epilepsy can be successfully treated by neurosurgery in some cases, the outlook for psychosocial and family functioning after surgery remains unclear. Read More

Zh Vopr Neirokhir Im N N Burdenko 2018;82(6):30-37

Burdenko Neurosurgical Institute, Moscow, Russia.

Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are some of the most frequent congenital abnormalities of the cerebral vascular system and usually occur at a young age. Given the fact that AVMs can manifest, in addition to hemorrhages, as symptomatic epilepsy (17-40%) that occurs more often at a young age and may lead to significant disability, investigation of this pathology remains topical. Particular attention has recently been paid to the management of AVM patients without clinical signs of hemorrhage at the time of pathology diagnosis. Read More

J Neurosurg Pediatr 2019 02 1:1-10. Epub 2019 Feb 1.

Departments of1Functional Neurosurgery and.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the electro-clinical features, etiology, treatment, and postsurgical seizure outcomes in patients with intractable epileptic spasms (ESs). METHODS The authors retrospectively studied the medical records of all patients who had presented with medically intractable ESs and had undergone surgery in the period between October 2009 and August 2015. The interictal electroencephalography (EEG) pattern, MRI studies, magnetoencephalography findings, and postsurgical seizure outcomes were compared. Read More

Seizure 2019 Jan 25. Epub 2019 Jan 25.

Department of Neurosurgery, Neurology & Neurosurgery Hospital Pierre Wertheimer, Hospices Civils de Lyon, France; University of Lyon, Faculty of medicine Claude Bernard, Lyon, France; NEUROPAIN team, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, INSERM U1028, CNRS, 5292, Lyon, France.

Stereoelectroencephalography-guided radiofrequency-thermocoagulation (SEEG-guided RF-TC) consists of coupling SEEG investigation with RF-TC stereotactic lesioning directly through the recording electrodes. In this systematic review the surgical technique, indications, and outcomes are described. Maximum accuracy is reached when a frame-based procedure with a robotic assistance and a per-operative vascular X-ray imaging are performed. Read More

Sci Rep 2019 Jan 31;9(1):1086. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, 85724, USA.

Among patients with intractable epilepsy, the most commonly performed surgical procedure is craniotomy for amygdalohippocampectomy (AH). Stereotactic laser amygdalohippocampotomy (SLAH) has also been recently employed as a minimally invasive treatment for intractable temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Among patients treated with AH and SLAH approximately 65% and 54% of patients become seizure-free, respectively. Read More