Intracranial Ictal Electroencephalographic Patterns in Parietal Lobe Epileptic Seizures : Correlation with Surgical Outcome

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUNDS Parietal lobe epilepsy is uncommon and its intracranial ictal EEG findings have not been well elucidated. We investigated the ictal EEG patterns of epilepsy originating from the parietal lobe and its adjacent areas recorded by intracranial subdural electrode arrays. METHODS: The following intracranial ictal EEG patterns from twenty patients who underwent epilepsy surgery for medically intractable parietal lobe epilepsy were studied 1) Anatomical ictal onset area [pure parietal (PP), combined parietal and extraparietal, such as fronto-parietal, temporo-parietal, etc. (EP)], 2) localization within the parietal lobe, 3) extent of the ictal onset zone, 4) the number of ictal onset zones, 5) frequency and waveform of ictal onset rhythms, and 6) type of spreading. RESULTS: Twelve patients (60%) were seizure-free (5 from PP, 7 from EP) and 8 were with persistent seizures (3 from PP, 5 from EP). Eight patients (40%) had ictal onset from PP and 12 were from EP. There were! Significant correlations with surgical outcome (p<0.05) in two variables extent of ictal onset zone and type of spread. Patients with focal onset zones (n=9) showed better outcomes (eight are seizure-free) than those with wide ictal onset zones (4 out of 7 are seizure-free). Patients with slow spreading patterns showed better outcomes (12 from 16 are seizure-free) than those with fast spreading outcomes (all of them had persistent seizures). CONCLUSIONS: The extent of ictal onset zones correlates with surgical outcomes. The patterns of intracranial ictal EEG are helpful in predicting the surgical outcomes for parietal lobe epilepsy. (J Korean Neurol Assoc 19(5)478~484, 2001)