title: Transneuronal degeneration in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy: evaluation by MR imaging.
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the MR imaging findings of transneuronal degeneration of limbic system in the patients with temporal lobe epilepsy, and to detect the influence of surgery on the anatomy of the limbic system. Axial and coronal T1- and T2-weighted MR images were retrospectively analyzed in 34 patients with temporal lobe epilepsy, focusing on transneuronal degeneration. In 17 of the 34 patients, MR images were also analyzed after selective amygdalo-hippocampectomy. Atrophy of the fornix, mamillary body, mamillothalamic tract (MTT), and thalamus ipsilateral to the epileptic focus was demonstrated on MR images in 14.7, 17.6, 8.8, and 11.8% of the 34 patients, respectively. Focal hyperintensity of the thalamus was found on T2-weighted images in 8.8% of the 34 patients. In 17 patients who were evaluated before and after surgery, transneuronal degeneration was seen more frequently after surgery: fornix (11.8 vs 29.4%), mamillary body (11.8 vs 52.9%), MTT (5.9 vs 11.8%), and thalamus (11.8 vs 11.8%). Transneuronal degeneration of the limbic system is clearly demonstrated by MR imaging in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy, and surgical intervention induces transneuronal degeneration more frequently.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, 36-1 Nishi-cho, 683-8504 Yonago, Tottori, Japan. tamachan@mg.0038.net
authors.forename: Fumiko
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kodama
authors.forename: Toshihide
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: Shuji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sugihara
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kamba
authors.forename: Norimasa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kohaya
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.forename: Toshibumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008032:Limbic System / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012183:Retrograde Degeneration / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies