title: The duration of temporal lobe epilepsy and seizure outcome after epilepsy surgery.
abstract: To assess the effect of the duration of epilepsy on the outcome of epilepsy surgery in non-lesional medically refractory temporal lobe epilepsy we reviewed the outcome of 76 patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients had anterior temporal resections for "non-lesional" temporal epilepsy (excluding any patient with tumours or vascular malformations but including patients with hippocampal sclerosis). Outcome at one year was assessed using Engel's scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  67% had a good outcome (Engel I or II). The mean duration of epilepsy was 23.0 years (range 2.9-46.9 years). Overall, there was no significant difference between patients with good outcome (mean duration 22.4 years) and poor outcome (mean duration 24.2 years) (p=0.49). The proportion of patients with good outcome was slightly higher in the shorter duration groups. (Duration less than 10 years 75%, 10-19 years 71%, 20-29 years 65%, 30-39 years 62%, and 40-49 years 60% good outcome, p=0.95).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found no significant associations between outcome and duration of epilepsy.
authors.affiliation: Salford Royal Foundation Trust, Stott Lane, Salford, Lancashire M6 8HD, United Kingdom. nataliefoy82@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Natalie Marie
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Lowe
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Eldridge
authors.forename: Thelekat
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Varma
authors.forename: Udo C
authors.initials: UC
authors.lastname: Wieshmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D012640:Seizures / Q000601:surgery*; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult