Surgical treatment of epilepsy

Neurol Clin. 2001 May;19(2):491-515. doi: 10.1016/s0733-8619(05)70028-1.

Abstract

Approximately 30-40% of patients with focal epilepsy continue to have seizures despite appropriate medical therapy. Surgical treatments should be considered in this important subset of patients. Recent advances in neuroimaging technology have revolutionized the identification and evaluation of surgical candidates. The goal of the presurgical evaluation (video EEG monitoring, neuroimaging, and neuropsychological assessment) is to delineate the epileptogenic zone. Surgery is recommended when this has been adequately identified and the proposed procedure is expected to result in a high likelihood of seizure freedom and a low risk of neurologic and cognitive morbidity.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Brain / surgery*
  • Corpus Callosum / surgery
  • Electric Stimulation
  • Electroencephalography
  • Epilepsy / diagnosis
  • Epilepsy / surgery*
  • Functional Laterality / physiology
  • Humans
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Neurosurgical Procedures / methods*
  • Preoperative Care
  • Temporal Lobe / surgery
  • Videotape Recording