Diagnosis and Treatment of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

Abstract

  Epilepsy affects 5-8 out of every 1,000 people and can occur at any age. Abnormal neuronal activity leads to recurrent seizures. While antiseizure medications control seizures in many patients, some cases are refractory, necessitating surgical intervention.

  Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is categorized into two types : lateral temporal lobe epilepsy, where seizures originate from the lateral temporal cortex, and mesial temporal lobe epilepsy, where seizures originate from the hippocampus or amygdala. Mesial TLE (MTLE) is a unique form of epilepsy and has well-documented efficacy of surgical treatment for refractory cases.

  Neurosurgeons frequently manage patients with this syndrome, yet many remain unaware of their condition or continue treatment with drugs alone despite experiencing intractable seizures. This article aimed to provide the essential knowledge for neurosurgeons to effectively diagnose and treat MTLE.