Can postictal memory predict postoperative memory in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy?
We investigated the contribution of postictal memory testing for lateralizing the epileptic focus and predicting memory outcome after surgery for temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Forty-five patients with TLE underwent interictal, postictal, and postoperative assessment of verbal and nonverbal memory. Surgery consisted of anterior temporal lobectomy (36), selective isolated amygdalohippocampectomy (6), or amygdalohippocampectomy coupled to lesionectomy (3). Postictal and postoperative but not interictal memory were significantly lower in left TLE than in right TLE. Nonverbal memory showed no significant difference in left TLE versus right TLE in all conditions. Postictal memory was significantly correlated with postoperative memory, but the effect disappeared when the lateralization of the focus was considered. Postictal verbal memory is a useful bedside tool that can help lateralize the epileptic focus. Larger studies are needed to further estimate its predictive value of the postoperative outcome.
EEG and Epilepsy Unit, Neurology Clinic, University Hospital of Geneva (HUG) and Medical Faculty, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. serge.vulliemoz@hcuge.ch
Serge
S
Vulliemoz
Olga
O
Prilipko
François R
FR
Herrmann
Claudio
C
Pollo
Theodor
T
Landis
Alan J
AJ
Pegna
Margitta
M
Seeck
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D038481:Anterior Temporal Lobectomy / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014706:Verbal Learning / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult