Improvement of aggressive and antisocial behavior after resection of temporal lobe tumors.
Seizures associated with temporal lobe tumors may rarely manifest as episodic aggressive behavior. We describe 2 cases involving pediatric patients who presented with histories of unusually aggressive and antisocial behavior. Magnetic resonance imaging identified right mesial temporal lobe masses in both patients. After craniotomy for tumor removal, both patients were seizure-free and had marked reductions in their aggressive behavior. Tumors in the temporal lobe may be associated with behavioral problems, including aggression and rage attacks, which can be alleviated with surgical intervention. It is important to distinguish this subgroup of pediatric patients from those with alternative diagnoses such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or oppositional defiant disorder.
Division of Neurosurgery, University of California at San Diego, USA.
Peter
P
Nakaji
Hal S
HS
Meltzer
Søren A
SA
Singel
John F
JF
Alksne
D000293:Adolescent; D000374:Aggression; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003399:Craniotomy; D017029:Epilepsy, Complex Partial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery; D004829:Epilepsy, Generalized / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery; D018303:Ganglioglioma / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery; D008579:Meningioma / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery; D018967:Risperidone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013406:Suicide, Attempted; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000502:physiology
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D018967:Risperidone