Résumé
BACKGROUD: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the usefulness of the ictal semiology, interictal and ictal electro-encephalography(EEG), brain magnetic resonance imaging(MRI), interictal and ictal single photon emission computed tomography(SPECT), positron emission tomography(PET) and neuropsychometry for localization or lateralization of the ictal onset zone, and analyze the result of surgical treatment. METHODS: We evaluated 13 children with intractable temporal lobe epilepsy, who are diagnosed at children's hospital of Seoul National University, from January 1995 to August 1996. The ictal onset zone was determined by ictal semiology, electrophysiologic study, structural and functional neuroimaging, and neuropsychometry. RESULTS: 1) Ictal semiology : Sixty-nine% of the studied children had change of consciousness, 62% had automatism, 31% had aura, 23% had contralateral versive movement, and 23% had contralateral dystonic posturing. Secondarily generalized seizure occured in 38% of them. 2) Interictal EEG showed localized or lateralized value in 8 cases(62%). In interictal EEG, 12 cases(92%) showed epileptiform discharges on the ipsilateral temporal lobe. 3) Magnetic resonance imaging revealed ipsilateral temporal lobe lesion in 8 cases(62%). Interictal SPECT was performed in 6 cases, only one of them had decreased cerebral blood flow on the ipsilateral temporal lobe. Ictal SECT was done in all, 8 cases(67%) had localized or lateralized value. PET was performed in 11 cases, 8 cases(73%) of them had localized or lateralized value. 4) Neuropsychometry was performed in 7 cases, 6 cases(86%) of them had localized or lateralized value. 5) Nine patients underwent epileptic surgery, 6 of them had class I outcome and each one of the rest had class II, class III and class IV. CONCLUSIONS: Electroencephalography, neuropsychometry, MRI, ictal SPECT, and PET are valuable for localization and lateralization of the ictal onset zone, but interictal SPECT is valuless. The outcome after surgery is relatively good, but more extensive study including patient's social, cognitive and emotional status will be necessary.