scholarly journals Resistant Temporal Lobe Epilepsy: Initial Steps into a Bigger Epilepsy Surgery Program

Author(s):  
Anant Mehrotra ◽  
Suyash Singh ◽  
Soumen Kanjilal ◽  
Gagandeep Attri ◽  
Kamlesh Rangari ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Among the patients of drug-resistant epilepsy, a subset which has focal impaired seizures localizes to the temporal lobe region (TLE). A majority of these cases are surgically amenable with anterior-medial temporal lobe resection or “lesionectomy.” Objective In India, there is scarcity of “specialized centers” providing “comprehensive epilepsy care” and this dearth is further worse in populous states. In this article, we share our single center, observational, and retrospective experience of TLE in background of limited resources and utmost requirement. Methodology Our study is a retrospective analysis medically refractory epilepsy patients (2016–2019). Patients with medically refractory epilepsy were selected based upon our noninvasive protocol (clinical semiology, interictal scalp electroencephalography (EEG), long-term video EEG monitoring data, and magnetic resonance injury [MRI]). The follow-up was noted from the last out-patient visit record or through telephonic conversation (International League Against Epilepsy score). Results Of 23 cases of TLE (n = 7, mesial temporal sclerosis; n = 16 temporal lobe like cavernomas, tumors, or arterio-venous malformations). Single photon emission computed tomography/positron emission tomography (SPECT/PET) was performed in five cases (three cases of ictal/interictal SPECT and two cases of PET scan) where there was discordance between EEG/clinical and MRI. The median follow-up was of 19 months with 18 cases being seizure free. Five cases were fully off the antiepileptic drug (AEDs) while in 15 cases, the AEDs dosages or the number were reduced. Average number of AEDs reduced from 2.9 in preoperative period to 1.2 postoperatively. Two cases had quadrantanopia and one case of cerebrospinal fluid leak. Conclusion A multidisciplinary and holistic approach is required for best patient care. The results of our initial surgical experience are encouraging.

2002 ◽  
Vol 13 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 123-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Montaldi ◽  
Andrew R. Mayes ◽  
Anna Barnes ◽  
Donald M. Hadley ◽  
Jim Patterson ◽  
...  

Brain dedicated single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) was used to compare the neuroactivation produced by the cued recall of response words in a set of studied word pairs with that produced by the cued retrieval of words semantically related to unstudied stimulus words. Six of the 12 subjects scanned were extensively trained so as to have good memory of the studied pairs and the remaining six were minimally trained so as to have poor memory. When comparing episodic with semantic retrieval, the well-trained subjects showed significant left medial temporal lobe activation, which was also significantly greater than that shown by the poorly trained subjects, who failed to show significant medial temporal lobe activation. In contrast, the poorly trained subjects showed significant bilateral frontal lobe activation, which was significantly greater than that shown by the well-trained subjects who failed to show significant frontal lobe activation. The frontal activations occurred mainly in the dorsolateral region, but extended into the ventrolateral and, to a lesser extent, the frontal polar regions. It is argued that whereas the medial temporal lobe activation increased as the proportion of response words successfully recalled increased, the bilateral frontal lobe activation increased in proportion to retrieval effort, which was greater when learning had been less good.


Brain ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 140 (7) ◽  
pp. 1872-1884 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Tousseyn ◽  
Balu Krishnan ◽  
Zhong I. Wang ◽  
Sattawut Wongwiangjunt ◽  
Chetan S. Nayak ◽  
...  

Ictal SPECT is used in presurgical evaluations of refractory epilepsy. Tousseyn et al. examine whether ictal perfusion changes correspond to electrically connected networks. Using evoked responses following direct electrical stimulation during stereo-electroencephalography as a connectivity measure, they show that ictal perfusion is not random but is supported by underlying connectivity.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Petra ◽  
Martina Rojnic Kuzman ◽  
Porin Makaric ◽  
Dina Bosnjak Kuharic ◽  
Ivana Kekin ◽  
...  

In this project, we recruited a sample of 150 patients with first episode of psychosis with schizophrenia features (FEP) and 100 healthy controls. We assessed the differences between these two groups, as well as the changes between the acute phase of illness and subsequent remission among patients over 18-month longitudinal follow-up. The assessments were divided into four work packages (WP): WP1- psychopathological status, neurocognitive functioning and emotional recognition; WP2- stress response measured by saliva cortisol during a stress paradigm; cerebral blood perfusion in the resting state (with single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and during activation paradigm (with Transcranial Ultrasonography Doppler (TCD); WP3-post mortem analysis in histologically prepared human cortical tissue of post mortem samples of subjects with schizophrenia in the region that synaptic alteration was suggested by WP1 and WP2; WP4- pharmacogenetic analysis (single gene polymorphisms and genome wide association study (GWAS). We expect that the analysis of these data will identify a set of markers that differentiate healthy controls from patients with FEP, and serve as an additional diagnostic tool in the first episode of psychosis, and prediction tool which can be then used to help tailoring individualized treatment options. In this paper, we describe the project protocol including aims and methods and provide a brief description of planned post mortem studies and pharmacogenetic analysis.


Circulation ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 112 (9_supplement) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariann Gyöngyösi ◽  
Aliasghar Khorsand ◽  
Sholeh Zamini ◽  
Wolfgang Sperker ◽  
Christoph Strehblow ◽  
...  

Background— The aim of this substudy of the EUROINJECT-ONE double-blind randomized trial was to analyze changes in myocardial perfusion in NOGA-defined regions with intramyocardial injections of plasmid encoding plasmid human (ph)VEGF-A 165 using an elaborated transformation algorithm. Methods and Results— After randomization, 80 no-option patients received either active, phVEGF-A 165 (n=40), or placebo plasmid (n=40) percutaneously via NOGA-Myostar injections. The injected area (region of interest, ROI) was delineated as a best polygon by connecting of the injection points marked on NOGA polar maps. The ROI was projected onto the baseline and follow-up rest and stress polar maps of the 99m-Tc-sestamibi/tetrofosmin single-photon emission computed tomography scintigraphy calculating the extent and severity (expressed as the mean normalized tracer uptake) of the ROI automatically. The extents of the ROI were similar in the VEGF and placebo groups (19.4±4.2% versus 21.5±5.4% of entire myocardium). No differences were found between VEGF and placebo groups at baseline with regard to the perfusion defect severity (rest: 69±11.7% versus 68.7±13.3%; stress: 63±13.3% versus 62.6±13.6%; and reversibility: 6.0±7.7% versus 6.7±9.0%). At follow-up, a trend toward improvement in perfusion defect severity at stress was observed in VEGF group as compared with placebo (68.5±11.9% versus 62.5±13.5%, P =0.072) without reaching normal values. The reversibility of the ROI decreased significantly at follow-up in VEGF group as compared with the placebo group (1.2±9.0% versus 7.1±9.0%, P =0.016). Twenty-one patients in VEGF and 8 patients in placebo group ( P <0.01) exhibited an improvement in tracer uptake during stress, defined as a ≥5% increase in the normalized tracer uptake of the ROI. Conclusions— Projection of the NOGA-guided injection area onto the single-photon emission computed tomography polar maps permits quantitative evaluation of myocardial perfusion in regions treated with angiogenic substances. Injections of phVEGF A 165 plasmid improve, but do not normalize, the stress-induced perfusion abnormalities.


2021 ◽  
Vol 35 (11) ◽  
pp. 986-995
Author(s):  
Weijia He ◽  
Jia-Chi Wang ◽  
Po-Yi Tsai

Background. Evidence remains mixed as to the effectiveness of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in treating mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Objective. In this study, we examined the short- and long-term effects of patterned rTMS. Methods. We randomly assigned 35 patients with PD with MCI to two groups. One group received intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS; n = 20), and the other received its sham counterpart (n = 15). The stimulations were applied over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex for 10 consecutive weekdays. Measurements based on the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) were conducted at three time points: at baseline, immediately after the last intervention and at 3-month follow-up. Each patient received a 99mTc-TRODAT-1 single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) brain scan at baseline. Results. The iTBS group exhibited significantly greater improvement than the sham group did in total RBANS and MoCA scores ( p < .001 for both) immediately after intervention and at the 3-month follow-up. Radiotracer uptake in the bilateral basal ganglion in baseline SPECT was positively correlated with response to iTBS conditioning with respect to improvements in MoCA scores ( p = .021). Conclusion. This randomised controlled trial provides evidence that a consecutive iTBS protocol can achieve a persistent and wide-ranging therapeutic effect in patients with PD with MCI.


2019 ◽  
pp. 199-206
Author(s):  
Gerry Grant

A patient with classic temporal lobe seizure semiology may present with aura, automatisms, and dystonic posturing. Video-electroencephalography (EEG) may identify the ictal onset and magnetoencephalography may further elucidate the anatomy of a temporal lobe abnormality, EEG dipoles, epileptogenic spike sources, and eloquent areas of language or motor function. Structural imaging of the temporal lobe with magnet resonance imaging (MRI) should also be obtained, as well as functional and metabolic imaging such as a subtraction single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and interictal positron emission tomography (PET). Early surgery should be considered in pediatric patients for seizure control, to minimize the adverse effects of anti-epileptic drugs, maximize the child’s developmental potential, and reduce behavioral, cognitive and psychosocial problems. Intraoperative stereotactic navigation and electrocorticography (ECoG) can guide resection. Careful pre-operative planning for correct extent of surgery is key to the best possible seizure outcome.


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