Epilepsy following surgical excision of supratentorial neoplastic lesions

ABSTRACT

Thirty-six consecutive patients of supratentorial neoplasm surgery were evaluated and followed up for six months postoperatively to assess the incidence and causation of post-surgical epilepsy. All patients were subjected to careful history taking, full general and neurological examination. MRI and EEG were performed pre- and postoperatively. Postoperative sodium and sugar serum levels were evaluated for each patient. Data about tumor pathology and operative details were collected. The overall incidence of postoperative seizures was 47.2%, while it was 16.68% when examined at various time periods during a six-month postoperative course. Preoperative history of seizures, tumor pathology, cortical incision, prolonged brain retraction, parietal and frontal location of the tumor, postoperative hyponatremia and hypoglycemia were commonly associated with postoperative seizures. Avoiding such factors, when possible, might decrease the risk of postoperative epilepsy