Seizure Outcome After Surgery for MRI-Diagnosed Focal Cortical Dysplasia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Objective:Focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) has been associated with poorer post-surgical seizure outcomes compared to other pathologies. FCD surgical series have been assembled on the basis of a histological diagnosis, including patients with abnormal as well as normal pre-operative MRI. However, in clinical workflow, patient selection for surgery is based on pre-operative findings, including MRI. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature to determine the rate and predictors of favorable seizure outcome after surgery for MRI-detected FCD.Methods:We devised our study protocol in accordance with PRISMA guidelines and registered the protocol with PROSPERO. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science for studies of patients followed for ≥12 months after resective surgery for drug-resistant epilepsy with MRI-detected FCD. Random-effects meta-analysis was used to calculate the proportion of patients attaining a favorable outcome, defined as Engel Class I, ILAE Classes 1-2, or “seizure-free” status. Meta-regression was performed to investigate sources of heterogeneity.Results:Our search identified 3,745 references. Of these, 35 studies (total of 1,353 patients) were included. Most studies (89%) followed patients for ≥24 months post-surgery. The overall post-surgical favorable outcome rate was 70% (95% CI: 64-75). There was high inter-study heterogeneity. Favorable outcome was associated with complete resection of the FCD lesion [risk ratio, RR=2.42 (95% CI: 1.55-3.76), p<0.001] and location of the FCD lesion in the temporal lobe [RR=1.38 (95% CI: 1.07-1.79), p=0013], but not lesion extent, intracranial EEG use, or FCD histological type. The number of FCD histological types included in the same study accounted for 7.6% of the observed heterogeneity.Conclusions:70% of patients with drug-resistant epilepsy and MRI features of FCD attain a favorable seizure outcome following resective surgery. Our findings can be incorporated in routine pre-operative counselling and reinforce the importance of resecting completely the MRI-detected FCD where this is safe and feasible.

Role of resective surgery in patients older than 60 years with therapy-resistant epilepsy

OBJECTIVE Epilepsy surgery for older adults is controversial owing to their longer duration of epilepsy and perceived higher surgical risk. However, because of an aging population and documented benefit of epilepsy surgery, surgery is considered more frequently for these patients. The authors’ objective was to analyze the role of resective surgery in patients older than 60 years and to assess outcomes and safety. METHODS The authors conducted a retrospective analysis of 595 patients who underwent resective epilepsy surgery at their center from 1999 to 2018. Thirty-one patients aged 60 years or older were identified. Sixty patients younger than 60 years were randomly selected as controls. Population characteristics, results of presurgical evaluations, outcomes, and complications were analyzed. RESULTS No significant differences were found between the groups in terms of hemisphere dominance, side of surgery, presence of a lesion, and incidence of temporal lobe epilepsy. Epilepsy duration was greater in the older cohort (p = 0.019), and invasive EEG was more commonly employed in younger patients (p = 0.030). The rates of Engel class I outcome at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years were 89.7%, 96.2%, and 94.7% for the older group and 75% (p = 0.159), 67.3% (p = 0.004), and 75.8% (p = 0.130) for the younger group, respectively. The proportion of seizure-free patients was greatest among those with temporal lobe epilepsy, particularly in the older group. Neurological complication rates did not differ significantly between groups, however medical and other minor complications occurred more frequently in the older group. CONCLUSIONS Patients older than 60 years had equal or better outcomes at 1 year after epilepsy surgery than younger patients. A trend toward a greater proportion of patients with lesional temporal lobe epilepsy was found in the older group. These results suggest that good seizure outcomes can be obtained in older patients despite longer duration of epilepsy.

Determinants of seizure outcome after resective surgery following stereoelectroencephalography

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate seizure outcomes after resective epilepsy surgery following stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG), including group characteristics, comparing surgical and nonsurgical groups and assess predictors of time to seizure recurrence. METHODS Clinical and EEG data of 536 consecutive patients who underwent SEEG at Cleveland Clinic Epilepsy Center between 2009 and 2017 were reviewed. The primary outcome was defined as complete seizure freedom since the resective surgery, discounting any auras or seizures that occurred within the 1st postoperative week. In addition, the rate of seizure freedom based on Engel classification was determined in patients with follow-up of ≥ 1 year. Presumably significant outcome variables were first identified using univariate analysis, and Cox proportional hazards modeling was used to identify outcome predictors. RESULTS Of 527 patients satisfying study criteria, 341 underwent resective surgery. Complete and continuous seizure freedom after surgery was achieved in 55.5% of patients at 1 year postoperatively, 44% of patients at 3 years, and 39% of patients at 5 years. As a secondary outcome point, 58% of patients achieved Engel class I seizure outcome for at least 1 year at last follow-up. Among surgical outcome predictors, in multivariate model analysis, the seizure recurrence rate by type of resection (p = 0.039) remained statistically significant, with the lowest risk of recurrence occurring after frontal and temporal lobe resections compared with multilobar and posterior quadrant surgeries. Patients with a history of previous resection (p = 0.006) and bilateral implantations (p = 0.023) were more likely to have seizure recurrence. The absence of an MRI abnormality prior to resective surgery did not significantly affect seizure outcome in this cohort. CONCLUSIONS This large, single-center series shows that resective surgery leads to continuous seizure freedom in a group of patients with complex and severe pharmacoresistant epilepsy after SEEG evaluation. In addition, up to 58% of patients achieved seizure freedom at last follow-up. The authors’ results suggest that SEEG is equally effective in patients with frontal and temporal lobe epilepsy with or without MRI identified lesions.

The role of hybrid FDG-PET/MRI on decision-making in presurgical evaluation of drug-resistant epilepsy

Background When MRI fails to detect a potentially epileptogenic lesion, the chance of a favorable outcome after epilepsy surgery becomes significantly lower (from 60 to 90% to 20–65%). Hybrid FDG-PET/MRI may provide additional information for identifying the epileptogenic zone. We aimed to investigate the possible effect of the introduction of hybrid FDG-PET/MRI into the algorithm of the decision-making in both lesional and non-lesional drug-resistant epileptic patients. Methods In a prospective study of patients suffering from drug-resistant focal epilepsy, 30 nonlesional and 30 lesional cases with discordant presurgical results were evaluated using hybrid FDG-PET/MRI. Results The hybrid imaging revealed morphological lesion in 18 patients and glucose hypometabolism in 29 patients within the nonlesional group. In the MRI positive group, 4 patients were found to be nonlesional, and in 9 patients at least one more epileptogenic lesion was discovered, while in another 17 cases the original lesion was confirmed by means of hybrid FDG-PET/MRI. As to the therapeutic decision-making, these results helped to indicate resective surgery instead of intracranial EEG (iEEG) monitoring in 2 cases, to avoid any further invasive diagnostic procedures in 7 patients, and to refer 21 patients for iEEG in the nonlesional group. Hybrid FDG-PET/MRI has also significantly changed the original therapeutic plans in the lesional group. Prior to the hybrid imaging, a resective surgery was considered in 3 patients, and iEEG was planned in 27 patients. However, 3 patients became eligible for resective surgery, 6 patients proved to be inoperable instead of iEEG, and 18 cases remained candidates for iEEG due to the hybrid FDG-PET/MRI. Two patients remained candidates for resective surgery and one patient became not eligible for any further invasive intervention. Conclusions The results of hybrid FDG-PET/MRI significantly altered the original plans in 19 of 60 cases. The introduction of hybrid FDG-PET/MRI into the presurgical evaluation process had a potential modifying effect on clinical decision-making. Trial registration Trial registry: Scientific Research Ethics Committee of the Medical Research Council of Hungary. Trial registration number: 008899/2016/OTIG. Date of registration: 08 February 2016.

Resective Surgery versus Debridement in Stage 2 Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw

The aim of this study is to analyze surgical and functional outcomes in order to verify the applicability of surgical treatment guidelines as foreseen by MASCC/ISOO/ASCO 2019. Patients affected by stage 2 MRONJ refractory to conservative management were grouped if underwent surgical resection (Group A) or debridement (Group B). Health-related quality of life was evaluated by using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer questionnaires, QLQ-C30 and H&N35. Statistical analysis was performed using Wilcoxon/Mann–Whitney test, Kaplan–Meier test, Cox regression model and Cox multivariate regression. Group A showed higher complete healing cases vs. group B. Recurrence rate difference in group A vs. group B was statistically significant. Debridement is an unfavorable prognostic factor when compared to surgical resection (p = 0.0032, HR 4.9). Quality of life mean values showed a marked improvement in Group A and a slight improvement in Group B. Debridement has 4.9 times more risk to develop recurrence when compared to surgical resection. A more satisfactory quality of life was shown in patients subject to resective surgery with an improving trend from baseline. Debridement patients showed more variability of results and an overall negative trend at the end of the 6-month follow-up.

Surgical outcomes in children with bottom-of-sulcus dysplasia and drug-resistant epilepsy: a retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE Bottom-of-sulcus dysplasia (BOSD) is challenging to identify radiologically. The aim of this study was to explore seizure outcomes after resective surgery or MR-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy (MRgLITT) in children with BOSD. METHODS Children with radiologically defined BOSD who underwent resective surgery or MRgLITT, with at least 1 year of follow-up were included. Clinical, radiological, neurophysiological, and histological data were extracted from medical records. Invasive video EEG (IVEEG) was used to evaluate the ictal onset zone or motor/language mapping, wherever appropriate. Histology of MRI-visible BOSD, including the overlying and adjacent cortex, was also evaluated. RESULTS Forty-one children with BOSD underwent surgical treatment. The lesion was initially overlooked on MRI in 20 patients (48.8%). Of 34 patients who underwent IVEEG and who had available ictal data, the ictal onset zone extended beyond the MRI-visible BOSD in 23 patients (67.6%). Surgical treatment included lesionectomy (24 patients), extended lesionectomy (12 patients), lobectomy (1 patient), and ablation of BOSD (4 patients). The pathology in 37 patients who underwent resection showed focal cortical dysplasia type IIB and type IIA in 21 (53.8%) and 16 patients (41%), respectively. Seizure freedom was achieved in 32 patients (78.1%) after a mean follow-up of 4.3 years. CONCLUSIONS Seizure outcomes after resective surgery or MRgLITT in children with BOSD were generally favorable. The authors found that the neurophysiological abnormality and pathology often extended beyond the MRI-visible BOSD.

Human amniotic membrane: an improvement in the treatment of Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ)? A case–control study

The aim of this article is to report the results obtained by the use of HAM in surgical wound healing and the reduction of relapse in patients affected by Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ).The study involved patients with the diagnosis of MRONJ, surgically treated between October 2016 and April 2019, in a case–control setting. Enrolled patients were randomly divided into 2 groups. One group will be treated with resective surgery and with the insertion of HAM patch (Group A), while the second group had been treated exclusively with resective surgery (Group B).The patients underwent MRONJ surgical treatment with the placement of amniotic membrane patches at the wound site. Data regarding the long-term complications/functions were evaluated at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery. Pain measurements were performed before the intervention (T0), 7(T1) and 30(T2) days after surgery. 49 patients were included in the study. 2 patients of GROUP A after 30 days since they were surgically treated showed persistent bone exposure. 5 patients of group B demonstrated a lack of healing of the surgical wound with the persistence of bone exposed to 30 days after surgery. Statistical analysis ruled out any difference in OUTCOME (relapse) between GROUP A and B (p = 0.23). However, the Fisher test highlighted a significant difference between the use of HAM and only surgical treatment in pain at rest (p = 0.032). The use of amniotic membrane implement the patient's quality of life and reduce pain perception. has a learning curve that is fast enough to justify its routine use.