Temporal lobe epileptic seizures: clinical and electroencephalographic aspects

THESES

TEMPORAL LOBE EPILEPTIC SEIZURES: CLINICAL AND ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHIC ASPECTS (Abstract)^*. DISSERTATION. SÃO PAULO,1997.

FÁBIO GALVÃO DANTAS ^**

Temporal lobe seizures often consist of a sequence of clinical features which includes aura, motionless stare, simple automatisms, contralateral motor activity, complex automatisms and secondary generalization. The analysis of clinical features suggests the localization and the lateralization of the epileptogenic lobe. Besides, the study of critical EEG specially when synchronized with clinical observation during video-EEG may improve the localization and the lateralization of ictal onset.

We analyzed clinical and EEG features of 50 temporal lobe seizures which were separated in group 1 (related to mesial temporal sclerosis) and group 2 (related to other neocortical temporal lesions).

Among the auras, the epigastric type was the most frequent and predominated in group 1.

There were differences between the two groups, considering dystonic and tonic posturing and versive head and eye movements. Dystonic posturing was more precocious and presented longer duration in group 2 seizures, while unilateral tonic posturing occurred mainly in group 1; versive head and eye movements were seen exclusively in group 1 seizures.

Dystonic posturing was always contralateral to the ictal onset in both groups and was considered the most useful lateralizing clinical feature. Ictal speech occurred in right temporal seizures. Spit automatism was seen in a patient with right temporal epilepsy.

Among the postictal features, disorientation only for place was found exclusively in right temporal seizures, while aphasia was observed in left temporal epilepsy.

EEG was important for lateralizing the epileptogenic lobe, specially considering rhythmic ictal activity and postictal fingings.

KEY WORDS: epilepsy, temporal lobe epilepsy, complex partial epilepsy, electroencephalography.

**Address: Rua São Sebastião 80 / 48, 04144-060 São Paulo SP, Brasil.

*

Crises epilépticas do lobo temporal: aspectos clínicos e eletrencefalográficos (Resumo). Dissertação de Mestrado, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (Área: Neurologia). Orientadora: Elza Márcia Targas Yacubian.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  17 Nov 2000
• Date of issue
  Mar 1998