title: High frequency stimulation of the mamillothalamic tract for the treatment of resistant seizures associated with hypothalamic hamartoma.
abstract: We investigate the clinical outcome from stimulation of the mamillothalamic tract in two patients with intractable epilepsy secondary to hypothalamic hamartomas. One patient has a left-sided and the other a right-sided tumor. Both patients presented with a history of gelastic and complex partial seizures resistant to multiple antiepileptic drugs. Both patients underwent insertion of a single deep brain-stimulating electrode ipsilateral to the site of the tumor, lying adjacent to the mamillothalamic tract. Postoperatively they both had a significant reduction in seizure frequency, with one patient being seizure free for the last 10 months. An improvement in mood was reported by the patient's primary carers and demonstrated on quality of life questionnaires.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurosciences, Frenchay Hospital, Bristol, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sadaquate
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Ingram
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Shazia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Javed
authors.forename: Peta
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sharples
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jardine
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: Steven S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Gill
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D046690:Deep Brain Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006222:Hamartoma / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007027:Hypothalamic Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008326:Mammillary Bodies / Q000502:physiology*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012640:Seizures / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013788:Thalamus / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors