Comparative role of neuropsychological testing in the presurgical evaluation of children with medically intractable epilepsies.
OBJECTIVE
In the present study, we evaluated the preoperative demographic, clinical, and neuropsychological variables that could predict postoperative seizure outcome in a group of pediatric epileptic patients.


METHODS
We studied 40 consecutive pediatric patients, ages ranging from 6 to 16 years, that underwent resective surgery for the treatment of medically intractable epilepsy at the Clinical Hospital of Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine. We performed ictal electroencephalography (EEG), interictal EEG, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and a preoperative neuropsychological assessment in the presurgical workup.


RESULTS
The following factors were correlated with seizure outcome: (1) duration of epilepsy, (2) surgery localization, (3) localized Neuropsychological (NPS) Evaluation, (4) ictal EEG, (5) interictal EEG, and (6) MRI. Mental retardation, NPS tests, and the other demographic variables failed to correlate with seizure reduction.


CONCLUSIONS
The identification of predictor variables of epilepsy surgery outcome could improve the epileptic prognosis and guarantee the children's full potential development.
Souza-Oliveira
Cecília
C
Department of Neurology, Psychiatry and Psychology, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
Escorsi-Rosset
Sara
S
Bianchin
Marino Muxfeldt
MM
Terra
Vera Cristina
VC
Wichert-Ana
Lauro
L
Machado
Hélio Rubens
HR
Sakamoto
Américo Ceiki
AC
D000293:Adolescent; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011379:Prognosis; D012640:Seizures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome