ABSTRACT

Objectives:

We aimed to investigate seizure outcomes, factors affecting these outcomes and predictive value of presurgical tests for surgical decision-making and postoperative seizure counts in patients with temporal lobe seizures.

Methods:

In the study, data from 47 patients (25 female, 22 male), operated for temporal lobe epilepsy between the years 1999-2010 and with at least 2 years of regular follow-were evaluated retrospectively. Patients demographic information, preoperative tests for suitability for surgery and seizure outcomes were evaluated.

Results:

The percentage of success in localization and lateralization of the epileptic focus was 88.6% for video EEG monitoring (VEM), 85.1% for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and 63.3% for positron emission tomography (PET). The rates of being seizure free for 2 years after surgery was 85.7% for patients with presurgical compatible VEM, MRI and PET results for epileptic focus, 72.7% for patients with only two of presurgical compatible results and 50% for patients with only 1 compatible result (p=0.314). 75.8% Engel Class 1 outcomes in mesial temporal sclerosis group, 92.3% in mass group were observed in second year outcomes after surgery.

Conclusion:

Epilepsy surgery provides high rates of probability of being seizure-free and an increase in quality of life in selected patients.