title: Radiosurgery for epilepsy: clinical experience and potential antiepileptic mechanisms.
abstract: Stereotactic radiosurgery, well established in the noninvasive treatment of focal lesions that are otherwise difficult to access through open surgery, is an emerging technology in the treatment of focal epileptic lesions. Recent studies suggest that seizures from hypothalamic hamartomas and mesial temporal lobe epilepsy remit at clinically significant rates with radiosurgery, but large variations among different studies have raised questions about appropriate treatment protocols and mechanisms. Proposed anticonvulsant mechanisms include neuromodulatory effects or ischemic necrosis of epileptic tissue. An ongoing trial that directly compares efficacy, morbidities, and cost of radiosurgery versus open surgery for mesial temporal lobe epilepsy is underway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA. quigg@virginia.edu
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Quigg
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rolston
authors.forename: Nicholas M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Barbaro
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D016634:Radiosurgery / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants