title: Frontal lobe epilepsy.
abstract: About one-quarter of patients with refractory focal epilepsies have frontal lobe epilepsy (FLE). The typical seizure semiology for FLE includes unilateral clonic, tonic asymmetric or hypermotor seizures. Interictal electroencephalograms (EEG) usually reveal interictal epileptiform discharges and rhythmical midline theta, which has localizing value. The usefulness of ictal EEG recordings is limited by frequent muscle artifacts in motor seizures and because a large portion of the frontal lobe cortex is "hidden" to scalp electrodes. Ictal single photon emission CT and positron emission tomography are able to localize FLE in about one-third of patients only. A pre-surgical evaluation should include, whenever possible, a subclassification of FLE as dorsolateral frontal, mesial frontal or basal frontal lobe epilepsy to allow a minimal cortical resection. A review of the typical findings of seizure semiology, interictal and ictal EEG regarding the different FLE subtypes is given. Etiology, medical treatment and surgery are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Epilepsy Group, Department of Neurology, Braga Hospital, Largo Carlos Amarante, Apartado 2242, Braga 4701-965, Portugal. beleza.76@gmail.com
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Beleza
authors.forename: João
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pinho
mesh_terms: D004569:Electroencephalography; D017034:Epilepsy, Frontal Lobe / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans