Seizure's outcome after cortical resections including the face and tongue rolandic areas in patients with refractory epilepsy and normal MRI submitted to subdural grids' implantation

PURPOSE: To study the seizure's outcome in patients with refractory epilepsy and normal MRI submitted to resections including the rolandic cortex. METHODS: Four adult patients were studied. All patients had motor or somatosensory simple partial seizures and normal MRI and were submitted to subdural grids' implantation with extensive coverage of the cortical convexity (1 in the non-dominant and 3 in the dominant hemisphere). RESULTS: ECoG was able to define focal areas of seizures' onset in every patient. All patients were submitted to resection of the face and tongue motor and sensitive cortex; two patients had resections including the perirolandic cortex and 2 had additional cortical removals. Three patients are seizures' free and one had a greater then 90% reduction in seizure frequency. CONCLUSION: Resections including the face and tongue rolandic cortex can be safely performed even within the dominant hemisphere

Qualidade de vida de pacientes submetidos a cirurgia de epilepsia Quality of life after epilepsy surgery

Epilepsia refratária ao tratamento medicamentoso é condição que interfere direta e negativamente na qualidade de vida dos pacientes, dificultando-lhes principalmente a integração social. O tratamento cirúrgico tem se mostrado eficaz no controle das crises em casos refratários, ocupando lugar importante no tratamento das epilepsias. Avaliamos a qualidade de vida de pacientes epilépticos, antes e após o tratamento cirúrgico, através de um questionário sobre qualidade de vida, adaptado do QOLIE-10 aplicado em 12 indivíduos epilépticos adultos, operados consecutivamente. O questionário, com 10 perguntas, envolvendo aspectos psicossociais e relacionados às drogas antiepilépticas, foi respondido no período pré-cirúrgico e repetido num intervalo médio de 8 meses após a cirurgia. Na comparação do questionário no período pré-operatório com o período pós-operatório, observamos diferenças estatisticamente significantes em 70% das perguntas, mostrando melhora da qualidade de vida após a cirurgia. Nestes casos, a terapêutica cirúrgica tem forte impacto na qualidade de vida.<br>Drug resistant epilepsy impairs patients' quality of life making social interaction more difficult. Surgical treatment is an option for seizure control in medically refractory patients. We evaluated pre-operative and post-operative quality of life using a standardized questionnaire based on the QOLIE-10. The questionnaire included ten questions dealing with psychosocial and drug's side effects and was applied before surgery and eight months post-operatively. The studied sample comprised twelve consecutive adult patients with epilepsy treated surgically who were seizure free. Differences were found between the pre-operative and post-operative periods in 70% of the questions, with a better post-operative profile. Successful epilepsy surgery has a great impact in the quality of life of these patients

Insular epilepsy: similarities to temporal lobe epilepsy case report Epilepsia insular: similaridades à epilepsia do lobo temporal - relato de caso

Insular epilepsy has been rarely reported and its clinical and electrographic features are poorly understood. The electrographic study of the insula is difficult since it is hidden from the brain surface by the frontal and temporal lobe. A 48 years-old woman started having simple partial autonomic and complex partial seizures with automatisms and ictal left arm paresis 8 years prior to admission. Seizure's frequency was 1 per week. Pre-operative EEG showed a right temporal lobe focus. Neuropsychological testing disclosed right fronto-temporal dysfunction. MRI showed a right anterior insular cavernous angioma. Intraoperative ECoG obtained after spliting of the sylvian fissure showed independent spiking from the insula and temporal lobe and insular spikes that spread to the temporal lobe. The cavernous angioma and the surrounding gliotic tissue were removed and the temporal lobe was left in place. Post-resection ECoG still disclosed independent temporal and insular spiking with a lower frequency. The patient has been seizure-free since surgery. Insular epilepsy may share many clinical and electroencephalographic features with temporal lobe epilepsy.<br>A epilepsia insular tem sido raramente relatada e suas características clínicas e eletrencefalográficas são pobremente conhecidas. O estudo eletrográfico da ínsula é difícil já que ela se encontra recoberta pelos lobos frontal e temporal. Uma paciente, de 48 anos, começou a ter crises parciais simples autonômicas e crises parciais complexas com automatismos e paresia crítica de membro superior esquerdo 8 anos antes desta internação. A frequência de crises era de 1/semana . O EEG pré-operatório mostrou foco temporal direito. Testagem neuropsicológica demonstrou disfunção fronto-temporal direita. RMN demonstrou cavernoma insular anterior direito. A eletrocorticografia intraoperatória obtida após a abertura da fissura sylviana demonstrou a presença de espículas independentes na ínsula e no lobo temporal, além de descargas que se originavam na ínsula e espraiavam ao lobo temporal. O angioma cavernoso e a área gliótica ao seu redor foram removidos e o lobo temporal foi deixado em seu lugar. A eletrocorticografia após a ressecção ainda demonstrou a presença de descargas nestas regiões, em menor frequência. A paciente está sem crises desde a cirurgia. A epilepsia insular pode compartilhar diversos aspectos clínicos e eletrográficos com a epilepsia do lobo temporal