Pharyngeal dysesthesia as an aura in temporal lobe epilepsy

Pharyngeal dysesthesias as aura in epilepsy localized to the non-dominant frontal operculum misdiagnosed as non-epileptic seizures

The diagnosis of atypical paroxysmal events represents a significant challenge for clinicians when differentiating epileptic from nonepileptic events. The ictal manifestations of pharyngeal dysesthesias are often misdiagnosed and difficult to distinguish clinically, given their subtle features such as pharyngeal discomfort with and without autonomic symptomology. We report a rare case of isolated ictal pharyngeal dysesthesias localizing to the non-dominant frontal operculum lobe misdiagnosed as psychogenic and later confirmed by continuous video-EEG monitoring.

Somatosensory and pharyngolaryngeal auras in temporal lobe epilepsy surgeries

Purpose. Somatosensory (SSA) and pharyngolaryngeal auras (PLA) may suggest an extratemporal onset (e.g., insula, second somatosensory area). We sought to determine the prognostic significance of SSA and PLA in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) patients undergoing epilepsy surgery. Methods. Retrospective review of all patients operated for refractory TLE at our institution between January 1980 and July 2007 comparing outcome between patients with SSA/PLA to those without. Results. 158 patients underwent surgery for pharmacoresistant TLE in our institution. Eleven (7%) experienced SSA/PLA as part of their seizures. All but one had lesional (including hippocampal atrophy/sclerosis) TLE. Compared to patients without SSA or PLA, these patients were older (P = 0.049), had a higher prevalence of early ictal motor symptoms (P = 0.022) and prior CNS infection (P = 0.022), and were less likely to have a localizing SPECT study (P = 0.025). A favorable outcome was achieved in 81.8% of patients with SSA and/or PLA and 90.4% of those without SSA or PLA (P > 0.05). Conclusion. Most patients with pharmacoresistant lesional TLE appear to have a favorable outcome following temporal lobectomy, even in the presence of SSA and PLA.

Localization of pediatric seizure semiology

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between semiology of seizures in children and adolescents to the corresponding EEG localization.

METHODS

Charts of 225 consecutive pediatric epilepsy patients undergoing Video-EEG monitoring (VEM) over 2 years were reviewed. Seizure semiology recorded during VEM was classified according to ILAE seizure semiology terminology and EEG localization, and analyzed based on onset as defined by the EEG data (generalized, frontal, temporal, parietal, occipital or multilobar).

RESULTS

A total of 1008 seizures were analyzed in 225 children (mean age 8.5 years, range 0-20), with 50% boys. Auras and seizures with automatisms arose predominantly from the temporal lobes (p<0.001). Tonic, clonic and tonic-clonic seizures had most commonly generalized onset (p<0.001). Hypomotor seizures were most frequently seen from the frontal lobes (p<0.001). Hypermotor seizures had most commonly temporal lobe or multiple lobe onset (p<0.001 and p<0.05 respectively). Atonic, myoclonic seizures and epileptic spasms had almost exclusively a generalized onset (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Different seizure semiologies relate to specific brain regions, with overlap between focal and generalized semiological seizure types, as identified electrographically.

SIGNIFICANCE

Semiology of seizures can provide important information for epilepsy localization, and should not be overlooked, especially in patients undergoing pre-surgical evaluation. Separation of clinical seizure description and EEG findings may be useful, in particular when only incomplete information is available. i.e. during the first office visit.

Approach to pediatric epilepsy surgery: State of the art, Part I: General principles and presurgical workup

In 1990, the National Institute of Health adopted epilepsy surgery in children as an option when medications fail. In the past few years several concepts have become increasingly recognized as key to a successful approach to epilepsy surgery in children. These include the concepts of neuronal plasticity, the epileptogenic lesion, the ictal onset, symptomatogenic, irritative, and epileptogenic zones. In addition, several techniques have increasingly been utilized to delineate the above areas in an attempt to determine, in each patient, the epileptogenic zone, defined as the zone the resection of which leads to seizure freedom. When seizure semiology (which defines the symptomatogenic zone), ictal EEG (which identifies the ictal onset zone), and structural imaging (which identifies the epileptogenic lesion) can be reconciled to infer the location of the epileptogenic zone, surgery is usually, subsequently, undertaken. When these diagnostic modalities are discordant, not definitive, or when the epileptogenic zone is close to eloquent cortex, invasive EEG, complemented by other imaging techniques may be needed. These include magnetoencephalography, single photon emission tomography, various types of positron emission tomography, various magnetic resonance imaging modalities (functional, diffusion weighted, other) and other emerging and experimental techniques. While MRI, video-EEG, and neuropsychological assessments are well established components of the presurgical evaluation, the use of the new emerging imaging technologies is dictated by the degree of anatomo-electro-clinical correlations, and, awaiting multicentric studies and more detailed guidelines, remains center-dependent.

Exacerbation of vocal tics after temporal lobectomy

We describe a woman with intractable temporal lobe epilepsy secondary to dysgenesis of the left temporal lobe who had a marked and long-term exacerbation of her preexisting vocal tics after a temporal lobectomy that completely controlled her seizures. The patient was determined to have right-sided speech dominance by the Wada test. This is, to our knowledge, only the second reported case of exacerbation of tics after resection of the nondominant temporal lobe.

Psychobiology of altered states of consciousness

The article reviews the current knowledge regarding altered states of consciousness (ASC) (a) occurring spontaneously, (b) evoked by physical and physiological stimulation, (c) induced by psychological means, and (d) caused by diseases. The emphasis is laid on psychological and neurobiological approaches. The phenomenological analysis of the multiple ASC resulted in 4 dimensions by which they can be characterized: activation, awareness span, self-awareness, and sensory dynamics. The neurophysiological approach revealed that the different states of consciousness are mainly brought about by a compromised brain structure, transient changes in brain dynamics (disconnectivity), and neurochemical and metabolic processes. Besides these severe alterations, environmental stimuli, mental practices, and techniques of self-control can also temporarily alter brain functioning and conscious experience.

Le lobe de l’insula et les épilepsies partielles

The role of the insular lobe in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) has often been suggested but never directly demonstrated. In this article, we review data from recent literature and from our stereo-electroencephalographic (SEEG) recordings in patients referred for temporal lobe epilepsy surgery (TLE). Our description of the clinical features of insular lobe seizures is based on data from video and SEEG ictal recordings and direct electric cortical stimulation in a population of 50 consecutive patients whose seizures, on the basis of scalp video EEG recordings, were suspected to originate from, or to rapidly propagate to, the peri-sylvian cortex. A total of 144 intra-insular electrodes have been implanted in this series of patients. In six patients a stereotyped sequence of ictal symptoms could be identified on the basis of electro-clinical correlations. The clinical presentation of insular lobe seizures was that of simple partial seizures occurring in full consciousness, beginning with a sensation of laryngeal constriction followed by paresthesiae that were often unpleasant affecting large cutaneous territories. These initial symptoms were eventually followed by dysarthric speech and/or elementary auditory hallucinations, and seizures often ended with focal dystonic postures. The insular origin of these symptoms was supported by the data from functional cortical mapping of the insula using direct cortical stimulations. We were able to reproduce several of the spontaneous ictal symptoms in the six patients with insular seizures. Moreover, from the whole set of insular stimulations that we performed it could be concluded that the insular cortex is involved in somatic, vegetative and visceral functions to which spontaneous ictal insular symptoms are related. The observation of the insular symptoms sequence at the onset of seizures in patients who are candidates for TLE surgery strongly suggests that the epileptic focus is located in the insular lobe. It entails the risk of unsuccessful temporal lobectomy and should lead: i) to reconsider the indication of temporal lobectomy and; ii) to explore directly the ictal activity of both mesio-temporal and insular cortices before making any decision regarding epilepsy surgery.

Clinical manifestations of insular lobe seizures: a stereo-electroencephalographic study

PURPOSE

In this study, we report the clinical features of insular lobe seizures based on data from video and stereo-electroencephalographic (SEEG) ictal recordings and direct electric insular stimulation of the insular cortex performed in patients referred for presurgical evaluation of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE).

METHODS

Since our first recordings of insular seizures, the insular cortex has been included as one of the targets of stereo-electroencephalographic (SEEG) electrode implantation in 50 consecutive patients with TLE whose seizures were suspected to originate from, or rapidly to propagate to, the perisylvian cortex. In six, a stereotyped sequence of ictal symptoms associated with intrainsular discharges could be identified.

RESULTS

This ictal sequence occurred in full consciousness, beginning with a sensation of laryngeal constriction and paresthesiae, often unpleasant, affecting large cutaneous territories, most often at the onset of a complex partial seizure (five of the six patients). It was eventually followed by dysarthric speech and focal motor convulsive symptoms. The insular origin of these symptoms was supported by the data from functional cortical mapping of the insula by using direct cortical stimulations.

CONCLUSIONS

This sequence of ictal symptoms looks reliable enough to characterize insular lobe epileptic seizures (ILESs). Observation of this clinical sequence at the onset of seizures on video-EEG recordings in TLE patients strongly suggests that the seizure-onset zone is located not in the temporal but in the insular lobe; recording directly from the insular cortex should occur before making any decision regarding epilepsy surgery.

Pharyngeal dysesthesia in refractory complex partial epilepsy: new seizure or adverse effect of vagal nerve stimulation?

Sensory symptoms are commonly seen in association with focal epilepsy, but viscerosensory auras, such as pharyngeal dysesthesias, are rarely the main clinical manifestation. With the introduction of vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) for medically refractory epilepsy, viscerosensory symptoms commonly occur as an adverse effect of VNS. Voice alterations (hoarseness or tremulousness), local neck or throat pain, and cough are the most common adverse effects seen during active stimulation (on-time). Numbness of the throat, neck, or chin, as well as a tingling sensation of the neck and throat is directly related to stimulation intensity. We present a case in which recurrent pharyngeal sensations caused a diagnostic dilemma and in which monitoring the VNS artifact during video/EEG and correlating this with clinical symptoms helped determine the etiology of the recurrent sensory symptoms.

Pharyngeal dysesthesias as an aura in temporal lobe epilepsy associated with amygdalar pathology

PURPOSE

Pharyngeal dysesthetic auras are typically described with centrotemporal and opercular seizure-onset localizations. In this report we describe the fourth case in literature with temporal lobe seizures, apparently secondary to an amygdalar lesion on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), presenting with prominent pharyngeal dysesthesias as the initial, or only, seizure manifestation.

METHODS

Because of diagnostic uncertainty regarding the nature of the pharyngeal sensations, our case underwent prolonged extracranial video-EEG monitoring.

RESULTS

Video-EEG information documented the epileptic origin of the dysesthesias and was concordant with the side and location of the amygdalar lesion.

CONCLUSIONS

Pharyngeal dysesthetic auras may be produced by epileptic activity originating from the amygdala, and perhaps other mediotemporal structures. The underlying topography of this aura is not known with certainty, and it may reflect seizure spread from the amygdala and adjacent areas to the closely interconnected insular and opercular cortex, whose secondary activation could elicit similar sensations.

Prognostic factors in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy surgery

Eighty-four patients submitted to anterior temporal lobectomy were evaluated retrospectively in order to correlate the different type of simple partial seizure (SPS) and their prognostic implications in patients with mesial temporal sclerosis. The patients were divided in two groups following the classification of Engel; Group 1 (53 patients) included patients Class I (without seizures or of good outcome) and Group 2 (31 patients) included Classes II, III and IV (with seizures or of bad outcome). The two groups were compared and results showed no statistical difference in relation to the demographic aspects as sex, side of surgery, age at onset of seizures and time of the patients' postoperative follow-up. Statistical analysis revealed no relationship between type of SPS and outcome. SPS did not show a statistical value in localizing the side of pathology. However, when the two groups were compared statistically in terms of patients' ages at the time of surgery, and the time elapsed from the onset of the seizures to the surgical intervention, it was observed that Group 1 (of good outcome) had seizures for smaller interval (p <0.05) and was operated at an earlier age (p<0.02) than Group 2 (of bad outcome). The presence or the type of SPS can not be used as a prognostic measure; surgical therapy must be considered as soon as clinical resistance is demonstrated.

[Temporal lobe epilepsy with aura of pleasure. Case report]

We report on a woman with temporal lobe epilepsy and "orgasm sensation" like an epileptic aura. Literature is controversial about pleasure and ecstasy as an epileptic aura. Aura of pleasure in this case is confirmed, by clinical investigation, electroencephalogram and seizures remission with treatment (phenytoin).