title: Pharmacotherapy of epileptic seizures in glioma patients: who, when, why and how long?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The risk for patients with primary brain tumors of experiencing an epileptic seizure at least once in the course of disease probably exceeds 50%, depending on tumor location and tumor type. Several aspects regarding the role of anticonvulsants in the treatment of brain tumor patients have remained controversial.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed the seizure history in 107 patients undergoing a surgical procedure for glioma at our institution.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall seizure incidence was 68%. Pre-operative seizures did not predict the occurrence of post-operative seizures. After surgery, postoperative chemo- or radiotherapy and anticonvulsive therapy one third of patients was seizure-free whereas one third showed frequent seizures despite this treatment. Seizure frequency increased regardless of anticonvulsive treatment with progressive or recurrent tumor growth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on a literature review and our institutional experience, we delineate some recommendations for the management of seizures in patients with brain tumors.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Allgemeine Neurologie, Hertie-Institut für Klinische Hirnforschung, Zentrum für Neurologie, Universitatsklinikum Tübingen, Germany. wolfgang.wick@uni-tuebingen.de
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wick
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Menn
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meisner
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Steinbach
authors.forename: Mirjam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hermisson
authors.forename: Marcos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tatagiba
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weller
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000601:surgery; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018450:Disease Progression; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005910:Glioma / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents